An NHS trust has suspended its contract with a private clinic over concerns about operations its surgeons carried out on its behalf.
The University of Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has written to 219 patients after concerns were raised over four operations which were carried out by NHS surgeons for the Birkdale Clinic at the city’s Glenfield Hospital.
The trust said in a statement: “The decision comes after routine monitoring of the operations showed up a number of concerns.
“Erring on the side of caution, it was decided to suspend the contract pending the outcome of a full investigation.”
Under the terms of the agreement, surgeons – who normally work for the NHS – were hired from the Birkdale Clinic to carry out operations at weekends in an initiative to cut waiting times.
But the move to suspend the contract has meant 25 patients have had their operations delayed.
Angus Maitland, the trust’s director of operations, said: “We have decided to suspend these weekend procedures because we have to be absolutely sure that when people come in the surgery they have is of the highest quality.”
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