HOSPITAL chiefs have responded to 'disappointment' over a lack of 'reassurance' over the future of complex spinal surgery as services remain suspended.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cancelled all upcoming spinal procedures in September last year after four serious incidents in six months.

Two patients died following surgery – believed to have been caused by medical complications – while two cases of post-operative nerve damage were also reported.

Prior to last March, the trust’s spinal services had not been involved in a serious incident since 2013.

Hospital bosses and Warrington CCG, which commissions the hospital to carry out the treatment, decided to suspend the service at the time and asked the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) to carry out a review, held in early November.

During last Thursday’s health and wellbeing board meeting, concerns were raised over the lack of clarity over the future of spinal surgery in the town – with members calling for more information immediately.

Concerns over the health scrutiny committee not being given enough information were also highlighted.

Cllr Rebecca Knowles said: "There has been a report but we have not had feedback on that yet.

"It would be very helpful to get reassurance for the provision of spinal services for the patients of Warrington, given the suspension of services that there has been."

Former council leader Cllr Ian Marks added: "I was disappointed.

"We saw a lot more on the TV but, surely, as a health scrutiny committee we should have got something sooner rather than later."

The independent review highlighted concerns over the ‘questionable’ way in which decisions had been made over when to operate on patients and the type of procedures to use, with findings also raising concerns over a ‘disconnect’ between surgeons and the trust management which contributed to the safety of patients being ‘compromised’.

The trust has responded to the concerns.

It says the health scrutiny committee has been kept informed throughout the process by Warrington CCG, which has provided a ‘briefing’ to each meeting.

Spinal surgery services will remain suspended pending the outcome of ‘wider discussions’ on the future delivery of specialist spinal services across Cheshire and Merseyside. 

The trust says alternative providers remain in place to take Warrington and Halton patient referrals for the immediate future.

Professor Simon Constable, the trust’s executive medical director, added: “We can confirm that we are in receipt of the jointly-commissioned report from the RCS following the invited review mechanism, which took place in November 2017.

“We once again offer our sincere apologies to all those patients and families that have been affected either by the serious incidents or by the disruption to services arising from the service suspension.

“We remain grateful to all staff that took part in the invited review for their openness and continued commitment to doing their best for those patients and families involved.

“The report and the RCS’ expert opinion on the four individual patient cases have now been shared with those patients/families involved and follows sharing of earlier investigation reports into those incidents. 

“As commissioners and as a provider we are working together to ensure that the recommendations from the report are fully considered and incorporated in the wider context of how spinal surgery services will be delivered in Cheshire and Merseyside in the future.

“This will include defining the role of Warrington and Halton hospitals in keeping access for patients to spinal surgery services as close to home as possible.

“The process of shaping the future configuration of specialist spinal services across the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside has already begun with a meeting on February 6 2018 and led by NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time team, attended by leading consultants, chief executives and other senior clinical leads.”