University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is supporting Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) as part of an internal investigation into the paediatric scoliosis pathway previously shared between the two organisations.
UHL previously provided spinal outpatient care and referred patients to NUH for surgery. The outpatient service, in a pre-planned move, recently transferred to NUH so that children and young people can receive all aspects of their care in one place, in line with national recommendations.
Important work is now being undertaken to look at whether some patients should have received additional monitoring between referral and surgery.
An internal investigation, led by NUH and supported by UHL, is examining how systems and processes within the pathway worked together, identifying any gaps, and ensuring that improvements are made to support the best possible patient outcomes.
Alongside this, NUH has launched an external review, supported by UHL and led by a team of paediatric clinicians from outside the organisations. This will examine the care experienced by patients currently on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery and whether they received the level of medical monitoring expected.
Helen Hendley, Chief Operating Officer at UHL, said: “We understand how worrying this information may feel for patients and families, and we are truly sorry for any concern it has caused. We are working openly and closely with colleagues at NUH to support the internal investigation and external review, and we are fully committed to learning from this work and acting on any improvements identified.”
Routine care for paediatric scoliosis continues as normal at NUH. All patients currently on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery have been contacted to inform them of the internal investigation and external review. NUH will keep families updated on progress, outcomes and any concerns identified about their care.
Further information and frequently asked questions are available on the NUH website. Patients with concerns about their condition or care are encouraged to contact NUH directly using the details provided.