Police open investigation into hospital where patient waiting lists were 'systematically fiddled'

Police have opened an investigation into a hospital where waiting lists were allegedly “systematically fiddled” in order to avoid fines for patients waiting longer than 52 weeks.

Managers at Kettering General Hospital removed patients from their official waiting list data so that they would meet national targets, according to a whistleblower in 2017.

While a previous inquiry into the allegations by NHS Protect, since replaced by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, found no evidence of fraud, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Northamptonshire Police were reviewing the case.

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was "happy to support the police" in their work, covering allegations dating to 2015.

A hospital review carried out in 2017 found 138 patients were harmed because of long waits.

But while concluding there had been inappropriate filtering of data to remove patients from lists, described as "well-intentioned, if misguided", the review said allegations of deliberate doctoring were "entirely false".

Whistleblower David Phelan, a hospital trust governor, told the BBC that managers had used six exclusion categories to remove patients from their official waiting list data.

"It became apparent to me that a systematic fiddling of the waiting list figures was taking place," he said.

Trust chief executive Simon Weldon, said: "We are an open and transparent organisation, and are happy to support the police with their enquiries.

"Although the 2017 independent investigation concluded that allegations made were unsubstantiated, if there are new findings then I give my assurance that I will absolutely address them.”

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said they have “received allegations of a non-recent nature that are currently being reviewed.

"As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this matter."