A DAMNING report describing allegations of racism, bad behaviour among consultants at Furness General Hospital and patients being put at risk can be published for the first time. 

A team of three reviewers from the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Association of Urological Surgeons was tasked with investigating the urology department at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust after a series of clinical errors and safety concerns. 

The trust requested the review in 2016 after clinical incidents and complaints about consultant Kavinder Madhra which included one patient almost having the wrong kidney removed.

The full review can now be published for the first time after The Mail obtained a redacted copy of the report under the Freedom of Information Act. 

The reviewers expressed concerns about on-call consultants covering both Furness General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary which led to one having to travel between the two hospitals three times in one day. 

Reviewers noted “instances of patients remaining on the ward without being treated while successive consultants came on duty” and treatment decisions changing numerous times “because consultants did not agree with one another”.

The report also refers to allegations of racism and malicious reports of clinical negligence made about colleagues. Consultants also “refused to help one another”. 

Mismanagement resulted in staff being “unable to find patients” and certain consultants were “consistently late” to clinics. 

The review concluded: “Arrangements for the provision of emergency care for inpatients at the weekend at FGH were potentially unsafe... Poor communication between staff can be a major contributory factor to subsequent error and harm to patients.”

Mr Madhra began working for the trust in 2001. He was sent away for seven years’ re-training in 2002 after the General Medical Council issued him with a warning. 

In 2014 a series of complaints led to Mr Madhra being suspended but he was later allowed to return to work as long as he was always supervised. 
An improvement plan was put in place following the publication of the review. 

UHMBT director Dr David Walker said the review flagged up “very significant concerns in Mr Madhra’s practice”.

He said: “We developed an action plan in response to the RCS invited review.

“Implementation of the action plan was overseen by the Deputy Medical Director and discussed monthly with the CQC to ensure progress.”

Mr Madhra continued to treat patients until September 2018 when the GMC imposed conditions on his practice. Nine days later he quit his job. 

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service is currently sitting in Manchester to consider if Mr Madhra’s fitness to practice is impaired. The hearing is due to conclude this week.