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West Suffolk Hospital 'closure' considered over blood bank | West Suffolk Hospital 'closure' considered over blood bank |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Closure of a hospital was considered after its blood bank was deemed "seriously deficient" and posed a risk to patients, inspectors said. | Closure of a hospital was considered after its blood bank was deemed "seriously deficient" and posed a risk to patients, inspectors said. |
An internal NHS document leaked to the BBC shows an order that would have "effectively closed down" the West Suffolk Hospital was considered. | |
But the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decided the consequences were too big. | But the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decided the consequences were too big. |
West Suffolk Hospital said it had since taken "robust" action to improve. | West Suffolk Hospital said it had since taken "robust" action to improve. |
Nick Jenkins, medical director at the Bury St Edmunds hospital, said deficiencies found were related to quality assurance in its laboratory management processes and computer system. | Nick Jenkins, medical director at the Bury St Edmunds hospital, said deficiencies found were related to quality assurance in its laboratory management processes and computer system. |
He said they did not affect the safety of patients or the quality of blood used. | He said they did not affect the safety of patients or the quality of blood used. |
The medicines watchdog said the hospital put in place a "comprehensive remediation plan" after its blood services were inspected in January 2017. | The medicines watchdog said the hospital put in place a "comprehensive remediation plan" after its blood services were inspected in January 2017. |
Rated 'outstanding' | Rated 'outstanding' |
According to the document "Pathology Services - The aftermath of consolidation", the hospital's pathology services were "seriously deficient" and "presented a significant risk of providing a product which was harmful to the patient". | |
It said a "cease and desist order" was considered but the MHRA decided the consequences of closing the hospital were "considered greater than the risk of the blood bank [running] with urgent remedial action". | It said a "cease and desist order" was considered but the MHRA decided the consequences of closing the hospital were "considered greater than the risk of the blood bank [running] with urgent remedial action". |
An MHRA spokesman said: "Immediately following the initial inspection, the trust provided us with a comprehensive remediation plan, and satisfactory progress has been made towards the trust reaching a fully compliant state." | An MHRA spokesman said: "Immediately following the initial inspection, the trust provided us with a comprehensive remediation plan, and satisfactory progress has been made towards the trust reaching a fully compliant state." |
The hospital has been re-inspected three times since the initial inspection, and continued "to satisfy inspectors that we provide a service that is safe", Mr Jenkins added. | The hospital has been re-inspected three times since the initial inspection, and continued "to satisfy inspectors that we provide a service that is safe", Mr Jenkins added. |
West Suffolk Hospital is currently rated as "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). | West Suffolk Hospital is currently rated as "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). |
The document also highlighted problems with changes to pathology services in the East of England. | |
A pathology partnership, led by Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, was set up in 2011, covering hospitals in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, North East Essex and North and East Hertfordshire. | A pathology partnership, led by Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, was set up in 2011, covering hospitals in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, North East Essex and North and East Hertfordshire. |
It made losses of £41m by March 2017, the document said. | |
The document highlighted a "lack of clinical leadership" which allowed "failures to go undetected until it was too late". | |
It said safety concerns raised by consultants were "ignored" and some patients given the wrong results. | It said safety concerns raised by consultants were "ignored" and some patients given the wrong results. |