Hospital chief says ‘we let people down’ over waiting time targets

Central Middlesex Hospital (Image: Archant)

A health chief has admitted letting down patients after hospitals under his watch failed to hit waiting time targets for minor procedures.

Northwick Park Hospital (Image: Archant)

David McVittie, chief executive of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, has held his hands up for failings which resulted in some patients waiting for longer than they were aware of for routine treatments.

An external review, launched last October, commissioned by the Trust, published its findings to the issues, discovered by the Trust, in the recording of the waiting times for 2,700 patients.

The findings into the investigation involving Central Middlesex, Northwick Park and St Mark’s hospitals were made this week.

McVittie told the Times measures have since been put in placed to prevent it from happening again.

He added: “We let people down and I would like to re-iterate how sorry I am that this happened.”

“While recognising the distress that may have been caused to patients who waited longer for treatment.”