Ban on two surgeons
Two surgeons at Stafford Hospital have been banned from operating duties after a major review following two deaths which raised serious safety concerns.
Bosses at the hospital ordered an investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons into the surgical department in October this year.
The review was conducted after two deaths at the hospital of patients who had undergone gall bladder operations, and continuing fears over patient safety and poor surgery results.
A meeting of the trust board was being told today the investigation found that while some surgeons were "entirely safe" there were serious concerns about others and the way the department was organised. Chief executive of Stafford Hospital, Anthony Sumara, today reassured patients that surgery in Stafford was safe.
As a result of the probe two colorectal surgeons have been stopped from operating on patients while the National Clinical Assessment Service carries out a review of their skills.
The Royal College of Surgeons also found breast surgeons were being used as on-call surgeons for general operations which is not seen as good practice. This has now stopped.
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is supporting the hospital with extra surgeons to help it cope with demand. The hospital is planning to create a code of conduct for surgeons and insist on regular audits as well making sure surgeons work as a team.
Chief executive Antony Sumara said: "Concerns about surgery and surgeons were coming up routinely. The review highlighted concerns in some areas and immediate actions have been taken to improve patient safety. Some of this report was about the behaviour of surgeons and we have made it clear it is inappropriate for them to act unprofessionally for any reason at all. I am now confident we have the right people, doing the right surgery on the right patients." Mr Sumara added: "Two colorectal surgeons are having a review of their skills by the National Clinical Assessment service. Until this is complete they will not be undertaking their full set of operating duties.""
He added: "I would like to reassure people that we have taken steps to ensure our surgical services are safe."
Earlier this year a Healthcare Commission report described emergency care at Stafford Hospital as "appalling". An independent inquiry into the hospital by Robert Francis QC is currently running.
Cure the NHS founder Julie Bailey said it was good that the hospital had taken decisive action.
