Hospital operating 'dual' lists

Health chiefs on Wearside claim they have done nothing wrong in putting thousands of people in a "queue", rather than on official waiting lists.

It has emerged that Sunderland Royal Hospital put 5,000 urology patients on a separate list while they waited for follow-up appointments.

Bosses say staff shortages meant specific dates could not be given.

However, this has sparked outrage with a local Euro MP saying this amounts to "fiddling the figures".

A local GPs' health committee has also said it has major concerns and will back any inquiry into the system.

Patient scandal

North East Conservative Euro MP Martin Callanan said: "What's the difference between a waiting list and a queue?

"This hospital might think there is one but I can't imagine people on those lists do.

"It sounds suspiciously like a way to fiddle figures to me."

A statement from the Sunderland Local Medical Committee, said: "Many of our patients will think this is a scandal.

"Should their representatives seek an external inquiry, representatives of GPs will participate willingly."

Lack of staff

A spokeswoman for Sunderland Royal Hospital said: "In normal circumstances, patients are allocated follow-up appointments on a specific time and day when they leave after an outpatient appointment.

"What the queue does is put them on a list until we know we have a space in clinic."

He added that no patients had been placed in the queue since the end of last year and that all patients were now being allocated specific appointment dates.