DETAILS of appointments at three major London hospitals have been lost because of computer problems. It has left hundreds of patients waiting beyond the recommended time for treatment at the Royal London, St Bartholemew’s and the London Chest hospitals
DETAILS of appointments at three major London hospitals have been lost because of computer problems.
It has left hundreds of patients waiting beyond the recommended time for treatment at the Royal London in Whitechapel, St Bartholemew’s in the City and the London Chest in Bethnal Green.
The NHS trust which runs the three hospitals has been hit by computer mayhem.
Outpatients have waiting nearly five months to see a specialist, inpatients have had to wait more than 18 weeks for treatment and mums-to-be have also missed-out on their care.
LISTS MISSING
The trust insists that only a “small proportion of waiting lists” went missing.
It had to write to 442 patients in November to say sorry for keeping them waiting six weeks longer for their appointment.
The controversial Cerner Millennium software has caused problems since it was installed a year ago. Within a month, 11 suspected cancer patients had their urgent appointments postponed at Bart’s.
STRUGGLING
Barts & The London Trust said: “There are some weaknesses in our information management and administration systems, which we are addressing. We will resume our monthly reports as soon as we have validated our data.”
The trust has been struggling to meet the 18-week referral target, it has emerged this week.
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