Colchester commissions independent investigation

A recent CQC inspection found that the records of cancer patients had been changed to fit with waiting time targets which potentially placed patients in danger. The inspection team also found evidence that employees were put under pressure to change patient records.  

The investigation began on Friday and is being led jointly by Pat Troop, a former deputy chief medical officer of England, and Carole Taylor-Brown, former chief executive of NHS Suffolk and former chair of the Anglia Cancer Network.

Monitor has agreed the terms of reference of the review and will receive a copy of the report.

The investigation report will be sent to Sally Irvine who, with the non-executive directors and after taking advice from Monitor, will consider what action needs to be taken and what lessons are to be learned. The investigation will be completed as quickly as possible but will need to take account of inquiries by Essex police.

Essex police are currently considering the evidence passed to them by the CQC and have not yet confirmed whether they will be launching a criminal investigation.

Dr Irvine said: “The board is deeply shocked and concerned at the failings revealed in the CQC report…It raises questions at the highest executive and management levels of the trust.

“The investigation has been asked to get to the bottom of who knew what, when they knew it and what they did – or did not do – about it.

“This will be a far-reaching and detailed investigation but because of the urgency of the situation, I have asked for it to be completed as soon as possible.”

The investigation will focus on whether any staff member did not handle concerns that were put to them in line with the trust’s policy, how effective the trust’s whistleblowing policy is and if there are wider issues of bullying and harassment within the trust, and what lessons could be learned from the handling of concerns raised by staff.

Witnesses from a wide variety of grades, including executive directors, will be interviewed during the course of the investigation.

Professor Troop and Ms Taylor-Brown will also consider “how appropriate and complete” the internal investigation in February 2012 was regarding changes to patients’ cancer pathways.