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| Knee patients face surgery fears | Knee patients face surgery fears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of patients have been warned they could face complications from surgery carried out under an assembly government bid to cut waiting lists. | Hundreds of patients have been warned they could face complications from surgery carried out under an assembly government bid to cut waiting lists. |
| Twenty Welsh patients reported pain after knee replacement surgery carried out in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. | Twenty Welsh patients reported pain after knee replacement surgery carried out in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. |
| A total of 683 Welsh patients treated there are being called back for hospital check-ups. | |
| Christine Miles, director of NHS Wales' delivery and support unit, said it was a "precautionary measure". | Christine Miles, director of NHS Wales' delivery and support unit, said it was a "precautionary measure". |
| The hip and knee operations were carried out at the NHS treatment centre in Weston, where the affected patients had been referred under the Welsh Assembly Government's second offer scheme, set up in 2004 to ease waiting list pressures. | The hip and knee operations were carried out at the NHS treatment centre in Weston, where the affected patients had been referred under the Welsh Assembly Government's second offer scheme, set up in 2004 to ease waiting list pressures. |
| A review was ordered when patients started reporting discomfort and stiffness to consultants following the surgery. | A review was ordered when patients started reporting discomfort and stiffness to consultants following the surgery. |
| Some have undergone further operations to correct the problems, while others are still waiting to have surgery. | Some have undergone further operations to correct the problems, while others are still waiting to have surgery. |
| 'Concern' | 'Concern' |
| In total, 654 letters were sent to orthopaedic surgery patients by Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and 29 were contacted by Gwent NHS Trust. | |
| Health officials have said more patients suffering complications could still come forward. | Health officials have said more patients suffering complications could still come forward. |
| Christine Miles, director of NHS Wales' delivery and support unit, which has managed the second offer scheme since October 2005, said: "I appreciate the concern that many patients may feel at receiving this information, but I would like to stress that this is a precautionary measure." | Christine Miles, director of NHS Wales' delivery and support unit, which has managed the second offer scheme since October 2005, said: "I appreciate the concern that many patients may feel at receiving this information, but I would like to stress that this is a precautionary measure." |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff Teaching Local Health Board ordered a review in June last year after patients started complaining of stiffness and pain. | Rhondda Cynon Taff Teaching Local Health Board ordered a review in June last year after patients started complaining of stiffness and pain. |
| Christine Miles said patients had been called back as a precaution | Christine Miles said patients had been called back as a precaution |
| A report by the British Orthopaedic Association showed that the complication rate for patients who had knee surgery in Weston was higher than expected. | A report by the British Orthopaedic Association showed that the complication rate for patients who had knee surgery in Weston was higher than expected. |
| Investigations showed that the problem was not with the replacement knee itself, but the way it was inserted. | Investigations showed that the problem was not with the replacement knee itself, but the way it was inserted. |
| David Salter, deputy chief medical officer for Wales, said: "Evidence shows that the alignment of the joint was slightly off in those patients who experienced complications. | David Salter, deputy chief medical officer for Wales, said: "Evidence shows that the alignment of the joint was slightly off in those patients who experienced complications. |
| "The angle in which it was inserted was not quite right." | "The angle in which it was inserted was not quite right." |
| Two Swedish surgeons working in the UK as part of a visiting team had carried out the operations and were interviewed as part of the review. | Two Swedish surgeons working in the UK as part of a visiting team had carried out the operations and were interviewed as part of the review. |
| One said there had been difficulties in culture and communication as more surgeons came to Weston, resulting in "less good care". | One said there had been difficulties in culture and communication as more surgeons came to Weston, resulting in "less good care". |
| Statement call | Statement call |
| A spokeswoman for the Weston Area Health NHS Trust said they welcomed the outcome of the review. | A spokeswoman for the Weston Area Health NHS Trust said they welcomed the outcome of the review. |
| She said throughout the three years patients were referred from Wales, patient satisfaction surveys showed that 98% of people said they had a "positive" experience. | She said throughout the three years patients were referred from Wales, patient satisfaction surveys showed that 98% of people said they had a "positive" experience. |
| The spokeswoman added Swedish surgeons were no longer at the centre because the project they had been working on had finished. | |
| The assembly government second offer contract with Weston Area Health NHS Trust has not been renewed. | |
| The Welsh Conservatives have called on Health Minister Brian Gibbons to make an urgent statement to the assembly, | The Welsh Conservatives have called on Health Minister Brian Gibbons to make an urgent statement to the assembly, |
| The Tories' health spokesman, Jonathan Morgan, said: "It is a matter of concern that hundreds of mainly elderly patients have found themselves in this situation." | The Tories' health spokesman, Jonathan Morgan, said: "It is a matter of concern that hundreds of mainly elderly patients have found themselves in this situation." |