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| Cheshire hospital stops spinal surgery after 'serious incidents' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An NHS hospital has stopped performing spinal surgery after four “serious incidents,” two of which involved the death of a patient. | An NHS hospital has stopped performing spinal surgery after four “serious incidents,” two of which involved the death of a patient. |
| Spinal operations will not resume at Warrington and Halton hospitals NHS foundation trust in Cheshire until an external investigation into surgical practice has finished. | Spinal operations will not resume at Warrington and Halton hospitals NHS foundation trust in Cheshire until an external investigation into surgical practice has finished. |
| “We have made the decision to temporarily suspected our spinal surgery at Warrington and Halton hospitals following the identification of four serious incidents involving spinal surgery patients over a six-month period,” said Prof Simon Constable, the trust’s medical director and deputy chief executive. | “We have made the decision to temporarily suspected our spinal surgery at Warrington and Halton hospitals following the identification of four serious incidents involving spinal surgery patients over a six-month period,” said Prof Simon Constable, the trust’s medical director and deputy chief executive. |
| “Sadly, two of these incidents were patient deaths [but] early indications suggest these were related to medical complications and not the surgery itself. These cases are now subject to the external review.” | “Sadly, two of these incidents were patient deaths [but] early indications suggest these were related to medical complications and not the surgery itself. These cases are now subject to the external review.” |
| The trust and the NHS clinical commissioning groups who pay for patients to be treated there have asked the Royal College of Surgeons to undertake what Constable pledged would be “a comprehensive review of our current spinal services”. That is due to begin next month. | The trust and the NHS clinical commissioning groups who pay for patients to be treated there have asked the Royal College of Surgeons to undertake what Constable pledged would be “a comprehensive review of our current spinal services”. That is due to begin next month. |
| “[The results] will help inform any appropriate actions or decisions regarding the future service provision. We understand that this may cause concern for patients on our waiting lists or being referred in to our services and we sincerely apologise for this,” Constable said. | “[The results] will help inform any appropriate actions or decisions regarding the future service provision. We understand that this may cause concern for patients on our waiting lists or being referred in to our services and we sincerely apologise for this,” Constable said. |
| The trust carries out 1,600 spinal procedures every year. Patients affected by the loss of services will be offered appointments at other hospitals while the RCS inquiry is under way. | The trust carries out 1,600 spinal procedures every year. Patients affected by the loss of services will be offered appointments at other hospitals while the RCS inquiry is under way. |
| Susan Rowland, a back pain sufferer who was due to have surgery at the trust, said the postponement of her operation – a day before it was due to take place – was “a massive blow”. | Susan Rowland, a back pain sufferer who was due to have surgery at the trust, said the postponement of her operation – a day before it was due to take place – was “a massive blow”. |
| “I had been mentally preparing for surgery and my anxiety had really been kicking in but I was still over the moon and excited. I was in shock when they cancelled with less than 24 hours notice,” she told the BBC. | “I had been mentally preparing for surgery and my anxiety had really been kicking in but I was still over the moon and excited. I was in shock when they cancelled with less than 24 hours notice,” she told the BBC. |
| Rowland, who was due to have surgery for a slipped disc, was told the day beforehand that “unforeseen circumstances” meant that all operations were cancelled for the “forseeable future”. | Rowland, who was due to have surgery for a slipped disc, was told the day beforehand that “unforeseen circumstances” meant that all operations were cancelled for the “forseeable future”. |
| NHS England backed the trust’s decision to suspend spinal surgery. Dr Michael Gregory, the organisation’s clinical director (north of England) for specialised commissioning, said: “We are supportive of this difficult decision taken by Warrington and Halton hospital. | NHS England backed the trust’s decision to suspend spinal surgery. Dr Michael Gregory, the organisation’s clinical director (north of England) for specialised commissioning, said: “We are supportive of this difficult decision taken by Warrington and Halton hospital. |
| “We are working with the trust to better understand the nature of an increase seen in reported incidents for spinal surgery services, so we can identify if there is anything that might be done differently to improve patient outcomes and the quality of care provided. | “We are working with the trust to better understand the nature of an increase seen in reported incidents for spinal surgery services, so we can identify if there is anything that might be done differently to improve patient outcomes and the quality of care provided. |
| “Our focus at this stage is to agree what support is needed for patients with appointments in the coming days and weeks. We will link with regional specialists for spinal care to ensure those affected by any disruption to services get the appropriate treatment and care they need as a matter of priority.” | “Our focus at this stage is to agree what support is needed for patients with appointments in the coming days and weeks. We will link with regional specialists for spinal care to ensure those affected by any disruption to services get the appropriate treatment and care they need as a matter of priority.” |