Hospital 'falsified' op records

Ian Perkin said others in the NHS should tell the truth

A report has revealed that records of cancelled operations at St George's Hospital in London were falsified.

The investigation by the South West London Strategic Health Authority (SWLSHA) backs up some claims made by the hospital's former finance director.

Ian Perkin claims he was sacked in 2002 after exposing the practice.

But the report, published on Tuesday, disproved four other allegations. St George's Trust said all relevant recommendations would be established.

Mr Perkin was sacked from his £100,000 a year post in December 2002 after working at the Tooting hospital for 16 years.

It is important that our public services are run by people with integrity Ian Perkin, former hospital finance director

Speaking to BBC London, Mr Perkin said the report "completely vindicated" him.

He said: "What I want to be is a beacon and an encouragement to others in the NHS to tell the truth in the future."

He added: "It is important that our public services are run by people with integrity. I don't believe that is the case now and I want to be sure that's the case in the future."

The SWLSHA launched the inquiry after Mr Perkin made a number of allegations about hospital practices.

Of the six allegations made by Mr Perkin the report found two to be proven and "an aspect of a third required further scrutiny".

Cancelled operations

It concluded that cancelled operations information in 2001 had been altered and that there had been "inappropriate charging on hospitality expenditure in 1999" to the value of £540.25.

Allegations that were not proven included claims that out patient waiting list figures had been manipulated and that final accounts for the year 2001 were falsified.

SWLSHA chief executive, Julie Dent, said: "I believe that issues raised by Mr Perkin about management processes at St George's have now been thoroughly investigated.

"The investigation has confirmed that patients have not been harmed or disadvantaged in any way by the alleged events at St George's."

Peter Homa, chief executive of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "St George's has come a long way since the events and allegations it describes.

"However, we will also be checking to make sure that all the relevant recommendations in the report are firmly established."