Deliberate manipulation of waiting lists and distorted clinical priorities have undermined public confidence in the British National Health Service (NHS), a committee of MPs said today.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee today published its 45th and 46th reports of this session looking at waiting times and inappropriate adjustments of waiting lists in England.
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The committee said at least 10 hospitals, managers and staff inappropriately manipulated their waiting list data and statistics "to hide the fact that they were missing government targets".
"In some cases the actions will have prolonged the suffering of patients during which their condition may have worsened," the committee said.
Arrangements for identifying those involved in manipulating waiting lists fell well short of good practice, the MPs added.
In certain cases the inquiries were not rigorous or complete and some of those allegedly responsible were allowed or encouraged to resign during the process.
Four trusts breached guidelines on agreeing confidentiality deals as part of severance packages which cost the NHS a total of £260,000.
In certain cases these did not include arrangements to recover the money when those involved went on to work elsewhere in the NHS.
The committee said the Department of Health had promised to address this and trusts had taken steps to deal with the 6,000 patients affected.
Its report also warned: "The pressure to reduce waiting lists has led a significant number of consultants to treat some patients before others with higher clinical priority."
"The challenging targets to reduce waiting times can only increase this pressure."
PA