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Colchester Hospital: Chief executive told of data claims in 2011 Colchester Hospital: Director resigned over cancer scandal
(about 7 hours later)
The chief executive of a hospital at the centre of a cancer waiting times scandal was told of allegations that data was being manipulated more than two years ago, the BBC has learned. An executive director at Colchester Hospital felt forced to resign over the cancer waiting times scandal.
Dr Gordon Coutts was sent a letter alerting him to the claims about Colchester hospital in April 2011. Finance director Mike Baker had carried out a flawed inquiry last year over allegations that staff were bullied into changing patient records to meet government targets.
In the letter, seen by BBC Look East, Dr Coutts told a patient he would investigate alleged irregularities if evidence was provided. The claims were not made public until last month.
Dr Coutts was unavailable for comment. The BBC has also discovered chief executive Dr Gordon Coutts was told of the allegations by a patient, in 2011.
Jon Campbell-Vencarto, who had suspected cancer, said he raised concerns over possible waiting time manipulation, after complaining to a nurse about waiting more than five months for a prostate operation.
The normal waiting time limit is 18 weeks.
The hospital trust is facing three separate inquiries, including a criminal police investigation.The hospital trust is facing three separate inquiries, including a criminal police investigation.
The case came to light after whistleblowers approached the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which then inspected the hospital.The case came to light after whistleblowers approached the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which then inspected the hospital.
It criticised the trust, saying it had failed to undertake a thorough investigation. The trust, which was placed in special measures last month, was criticised for failing to undertake a thorough investigation.
The claims were not made public until last month, when the trust was placed in special measures. 'Manipulate waiting list'
'Rather alarmed' Mr Baker told the BBC: "I was planning to retire and when I read the report I decided to bring it forward and I resigned.
Former patient Jon Campbell-Vencarto said he had tried to alert the hospital to possible waiting time manipulation in April 2011. "I am disappointed that I had to leave the trust. From my own point of view, I was about to leave the trust anyway but it rather coloured the way I left... I feel I let my people down."
Mr Campbell-Vencarto, who had suspected cancer, had complained to a nurse about waiting more than five months for a prostate operation at the hospital - in excess of the waiting time limit of 18 weeks. Another director, Rob Bowman, who led HR at the trust, left in March to become deputy managing director of Health Education East of England.
"She said it was a joke at the hospital. People were being taken off the waiting lists and put back on again," he said. Speaking of talking to the nurse he made the complaint to, Mr Campbell-Vencarto said: "She said it was a joke at the hospital. People were being taken off the waiting lists and put back on again."
His wife, Julie, who also heard the remark said: "We took it to mean that they were manipulating the waiting lists to meet their targets."His wife, Julie, who also heard the remark said: "We took it to mean that they were manipulating the waiting lists to meet their targets."
The couple wrote to Dr Coutts in April 2011 expressing their concerns, saying: "It has been alleged that hospital management removes patients off the lists and then puts them back on in some type of attempt to manipulate the waiting list system. We were rather alarmed when this was put to us."The couple wrote to Dr Coutts in April 2011 expressing their concerns, saying: "It has been alleged that hospital management removes patients off the lists and then puts them back on in some type of attempt to manipulate the waiting list system. We were rather alarmed when this was put to us."
In his reply, Dr Coutts said: "If you would like to provide me with any names or evidence of waiting list irregularities I will investigate this matter."In his reply, Dr Coutts said: "If you would like to provide me with any names or evidence of waiting list irregularities I will investigate this matter."
Mr Campbell-Vencarto said the hospital should have carried out that investigation rather than rely on a patient to find the proof.Mr Campbell-Vencarto said the hospital should have carried out that investigation rather than rely on a patient to find the proof.
'Let down' Dr Coutts was unavailable for comment.
The BBC has also discovered an executive director at the hospital has resigned over the cancer waiting times scandal. 'Respect employees' privacy'
Finance director Mike Baker carried out a flawed inquiry last year over allegations that staff were bullied into changing patient records to meet government targets. The BBC has also uncovered evidence of the financial pressure the hospital was under to meet its cancer waiting time figures.
Mr Baker, 67, told the BBC: "I was planning to retire and when I read the report I decided to bring it forward and I resigned." In January 2012, around the time staff were told to change patient files, the hospital failed to meet three key targets, including patients with breast cancer symptoms being seen by a consultant within two weeks.
He added: "I am disappointed that I had to leave the trust. From my own point of view, I was about to leave the trust anyway but it rather coloured the way I left... I feel I let my people down."
Evidence of the financial pressure the hospital was under to meet its cancer waiting time figures has also emerged.
In January 2012, around the time staff were allegedly told to change patient files, the hospital failed to meet three key cancer targets, including patients with breast symptoms being seen by a consultant within two weeks.
'Not comfortable'
North East Essex Primary Care Trust fined the trust £16,000 for those breaches to cancer standards and ordered a remedial action plan.North East Essex Primary Care Trust fined the trust £16,000 for those breaches to cancer standards and ordered a remedial action plan.
The trust board is due to meet later and will hear it has failed the latest quarterly cancer wait times for 31 and 62 days, which could lead to further fines from new commissioning body, the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group. The trust board is due to meet later and will hear it has failed the latest quarterly cancer wait times.
In a report to his board of directors, Dr Coutts said: "The CQC report has impacted [on] staff and extra resources have been allocated." Patients should wait no longer than 31 days between diagnosis and first definitive treatment, and 62 days for various pathways, including from cancer screening to first treatment.
In a report to his board of directors, Dr Coutts said: " The CQC report has impacted [on] staff and extra resources have been allocated."
A spokesman for the hospital trust would not talk to the BBC about the departure or suspension of staff or directors related to the CQC report.A spokesman for the hospital trust would not talk to the BBC about the departure or suspension of staff or directors related to the CQC report.
"We are not comfortable answering this question. We pride ourselves on protecting the confidentiality of our employees and respecting their privacy," a spokesman said. "We pride ourselves on protecting the confidentiality of our employees and respecting their privacy," a spokesman said.
"However, the trust is very concerned by the issues raised in the CQC report and will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone in the organisation who has acted improperly."However, the trust is very concerned by the issues raised in the CQC report and will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone in the organisation who has acted improperly.
"An independent investigation has been set up to establish whether or not there may be a case to answer under the trust's disciplinary policies by any employee concerned in either the handling of, or the response to, concerns that were raised about the cancer pathways. ""An independent investigation has been set up to establish whether or not there may be a case to answer under the trust's disciplinary policies by any employee concerned in either the handling of, or the response to, concerns that were raised about the cancer pathways. "