Stafford Hospital bosses insist surgery is safe

Bosses at Stafford Hospital today said that a number of improvements have been made to its surgery department since investigators found it "inadequate, unsafe and frankly dangerous".

A damning Royal College of Surgeons report followed investigations at the department in 2007 and 2009.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust said it had taken "immediate actions at the time to improve patient safety".

This included appointing a new surgeon to carry out gall bladder operations with support from the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Breast surgeons were stopped from carrying out bowel surgery and were removed from the trust's on-call rotas.

An extra surgeon has also been drafted in to take on more bowel surgery cases while two existing surgeons were retrained under supervision pending an investigation by the General Medical Council.

Vascular surgery is also being examined by the trust and all consultants have been ordered to carry out regular audits and work better as a team.

Maggie Oldham, chief operating officer at Stafford Hospital said: "We believe these actions have led to an improved service for patients in Stafford and reflect drive and commitment by the staff here to provide a high quality and safe service.

"We are grateful to the Royal College of Surgeons for undertaking the review on our behalf and as improvements to our mortality rates show, the steps we have taken across the board are having a positive impact on patient safety.

"We would like to reassure patients and their families they are safe when they come to Stafford Hospital."

Mrs Oldham denied there had been secrecy surrounding the reports, arguing the trust had discussed aspects of the report and issued a press statement in January 2010 and December 2009.

The full facts were only revealed on Friday after the reports were introduced as evidence at the public inquiry into the hospital.

Anyone with any concerns should call the hospital advice centre on 08000 407060 or 01785 230811.