NHS Trust Review Finds Dozens Harmed by Delayed Gynaecology Care

An internal review at Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust found that dozens of gynaecology patients at Salford Royal Hospital were harmed after administrative failures delayed their diagnosis and treatment. The audit examined hundreds of cases linked to one consultant and concluded that some patients experienced missed cancer diagnoses and other serious delays.

The trust said all affected patients have been contacted, offered support, and placed on appropriate ongoing treatment plans. No patients died as a result of the delays, according to sources familiar with the review.

The months-long audit was launched in 2024 after concerns arose that required follow-up actions had not been completed. Reviewers discovered that some women had not received letters about their treatment and that test results had not been acted upon for conditions including cancer.

A separate NHS England review completed in December 2024 identified a backlog of more than 2,000 letters at the same hospital. That earlier report found some patients faced treatment delays of at least five months and noted the service was heavily reliant on agency doctors.

Staff members told The Independent that the gynaecology department had long faced neglect, including insufficient nursing staff and a lack of new consultants. They described unsafe workloads, rota gaps, and cancelled clinics. The NHS England review found the unit was failing to meet national targets for diagnosing 75 per cent of patients within 28 days and treating 85 per cent within 62 days, largely due to workforce issues.

“I am extremely concerned by the findings emerging from the look-back review into gynaecology services. It has escalated the matter as a Rapid Quality Review, with monitoring by NHS England and the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board. The Care Quality Commission said it is aware of the concerns and has sought assurances that issues relating to individual clinical practice have been addressed through proper procedures. NHS England confirmed it is satisfied with the steps taken to reduce risks to patients.”