INITIAL findings of an independent review ordered into bowel surgery at Noble’s Hospital has found the level of complications do not exceed the national average.
But operations remain suspended pending the final report.
Scheduled bowel surgery at Noble’s was temporarily suspended in November following higher than expected complication rates in patients over a two month period.
An independent review was carried out by a team from North East England. All the cases involved were complex rather than routine – and the report’s initial findings indicate the level of complications does not exceed the national average.
The Department of Health said it is now awaiting a final copy of the report and any recommendations before it can consider resuming colorectal surgery.
In the meantime, patients requiring this type of surgery are being treated at a specialist unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, to which very complex cases are usually referred.
Medical Director Stephen Upsdell said: ‘We remain of the view that it was prudent to suspend colorectal surgery at Noble’s. This sort of suspension is just a precautionary measure and is quite routine where a hospital sees a spike in complications.’