AN independent investigation into the trust which runs Colchester's hospitals has found there is no evidence staff were ordered to manipulate cancer waiting time data.

The report has, though, criticised Colchester General Hospital and a senior manager for the way an initial investigation was carried out.

It says Mark Jarman-Howe, who was associate director of cancer services at the trust until March 2013 - when he joined St Helena Hospice - did not explain his decisions adequately when staff raised concerns.

Their concerns centred on how Mr Jarman-Howe interpreted new waiting time guidelines which were implemented in 2011.

They outlined how quickly patients should be seen if cancer is suspected - 62 days - and how long patients should wait for treatment to start after diagnosis - 31 days.

The review was called for by hospital regulator Monitor after Colchester General Hospital was accused of manipulating cancer patients' waiting times to make it seem they had not been waiting for consultation or treatment as long as they actually had been.

But in the ten-month £500,000 review, carried out by Carole Taylor-Brown and Prof Pat Troop and published yesterday, it found no evidence the data had been manipulated.

As part of a separate review, the East of England Strategic Clinical Network found “the overarching impression was there was evidence of inaccuracies in the cancer waits data but this was as likely to negatively impact on the trust’s performance statistics as enhance them”.

It adds: “This suggested the issue was one of effectiveness and competence in the cancer management team rather than a deliberate manipulation.”

Dr Lucy Moore, Chief Executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I welcome the publication of this report.

"It is an important step towards rebuilding public trust and confidence in the cancer services provided here in Colchester.

"It gives reassurance to our patients, their relatives and our local community that the authors found no evidence of manipulation of cancer data or of a systemic culture of bullying within the trust.

"Of course, there are some important lessons here too and we will certainly learn them.

"We have been making improvements to our cancer services since the CQC review was published at the end of last year and we are now implementing a comprehensive Cancer Improvement Plan.

“This work is ongoing and the trust’s aim is to be able to offer complete assurance to the trust board, its health partners and the wider public that all data reporting is now accurate and trustworthy.”

Adam Cayley, Regional Director at Monitor, added: “This report should bring a very difficult chapter in the history of this trust to a close.

“The new management team at the hospital is already delivering improvements for patients – a process we expect to see continue.”

 

'I made the best decisions I could'

THE former head of cancer at Colchester General Hospital has defended his role in a “mismanaged” investigation.

Mark Jarman-Howe was associate director of cancer services when new national guidelines were implemented in 2011.
 

Gazette:

 

He said he made the best decisions he could based on “limited information systems and poor record keeping” at the trust.

But junior staff raised concerns about how Mr Jarman-Howe was implementing the guidance and the independent report said Mr Jarman-Howe “did not adequately explain his rationale for his decision-making to his subordinate staff”.

It added: “[It] led to the rising tide of concern amongst them which was never properly resolved.”

But Mr Jarman-Howe, who is now chief executive of St Helena Hospice, said: “I made the best decisions I could at the time based on my understanding of the complex cancer waiting times guidelines and in the context of limited information systems and poor record keeping within the trust, which have come to light in later reviews.”

He added: “After the initial internal investigation, I was told that no concerns had been identified.

“At the time, I strongly suggested a further peer review which was subsequently not undertaken.

“This indicated to me that there were no further issues that needed to be addressed.”

Mr Jarman-Howe said he was always “open” about his decision making and changes were made to the waiting time processes while he was employed at the hospital.

He added: “I am pleased that the report also acknowledges the significant efforts by myself and others at the trust during the period in question to improve waiting times and care for cancer patients.”

Mr Jarman-Howe also made clear he did not leave the trust for any other reason other than to take up his role at the hospice.

Recruitment for his new position began in October 2012.