BOSS SACKED IN HOSPITAL PROBE completed earlier this week. A & E times 'wrongfully manipulated'.

Byline: KEVIN CORE

A CASUALTY manager was sacked after a hospital found her "gross misconduct" resulted in a year of suspect waiting figures.

Maria Jeffery was suspended as part of an internal investigation at Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital, along with the director of nursing and midwifery Michael Monaghan.

A recommendation has been made to the board responsible for the appointment and removal of directors that he too be sacked.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust (WUTH) says it has investigated allegations that the figures had been "wrongfully manipulated".

In a major blow for the hospital Trust, it means that figures for the percentages of patients seen, treated, discharged or transferred from A&E within four hours between March 2008 and April 2009 cannot be relied upon. Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts, has been informed.

In July it emerged staff at the hospital had raised concerns about how the A&E four-hour target was being reached.

Ms Jeffery and Mr Monaghan were suspended without prejudice and their disciplinary hearings were completed earlier this week.

It is understood there will be appeals. Len Richards, WUTH chief executive, said: "As soon as concerns were brought to our attention about this matter, we launched a thorough and searching investigation.

"This found that there was evidence of wrongdoing and this was taken to a disciplinary hearing this week.

"As a Trust committed to openness and honesty in all that we do, we take this matter extremely seriously.

"Waiting time standards ensure that patients can access our services as quickly as possible.

"We should therefore wish to apologise to any patient who has waited longer than necessary in A&E and reassure them we are absolutely committed to providing the highest standards of care."

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MAJOR BLOW: Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral