Dozens of patients, including those with cancer, were harmed after administrative failures at an NHS trust caused delays in their diagnosis and treatment, a review has found.
The months-long audit at Salford Royal Hospital, run by the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) NHS Trust, examined hundreds of gynaecology patients under the care of consultant Dr Jim Wolfe. It concluded that many had been “harmed” because letters about their treatment were never sent or test results were not acted upon. Sources familiar with the process said more than 60 patients were affected, among them patients who experienced a delayed cancer diagnosis. No patients have died as a result, it is understood.
Administrative Failures Behind the Delays
The review, launched in 2024, was triggered by concerns that necessary follow-ups were not being carried out. Clinicians within the department were asked to examine cases linked to a single consultant – identified by sources as Dr Wolfe – and hundreds of patient records had to be checked.
A separate NHS England review of the hospital’s gynaecology services, published in December 2024, uncovered a “significant backlog” of more than 2,000 letters that had not been sent to GPs. These included test results and referrals for treatment, meaning some patients saw their care delayed by at least five months. The trust admitted that administrative delays, along with “other challenges”, had “created a delay in diagnosis and treatment for some patients”.
In board papers published last November, the trust acknowledged patient harm. It stated: “In the recent review of gynaecology services, patient harm was identified due to delays in diagnosis and treatment. All affected patients have been appropriately followed up and managed.” The trust did not confirm the exact number harmed, but a source put the figure at more than 60. The review was managed as a “Rapid Quality Review”, meaning it was escalated to NHS England and the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, which monitored the trust’s actions.
NCA has apologised for the “distress we’ve caused” and said affected patients had been offered support and ongoing treatment plans. Dr Rafik Bedair, NCA Chief Medical Officer, said: “The trust has followed all relevant NHS and regulatory policies and procedures during our review of these cases. As appropriate, we have been in touch with a group of patients to be honest about issues identified with their previous care. We’re truly sorry for any distress we’ve caused.” NHS England confirmed it was satisfied with the measures the trust had put in place to address the problems and reduce risk. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board will continue to monitor the trust.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was aware of the concerns that triggered the 2024 review and had sought assurances from the trust that any issues relating to individual clinical practice had been dealt with in line with appropriate procedures.
Wider Systemic Failing s and Staff Unrest
The revelation comes against a backdrop of deep unease among staff at Salford Royal Hospital’s gynaecology department. In December 2024, the same NHS England review warned that the service was “heavily” reliant on agency doctors and that its ability to provide on-call cover had been hit by “significant sickness absence and suspension” among consultants. The unit was also failing to meet national targets to diagnose 75 per cent of patients within 28 days and treat 85 per cent within 62 days – failures the reviewers attributed “mostly” to workforce issues.
Staff have repeatedly raised safety concerns with Rebecca Long Bailey, Labour MP for Salford. She told The Independent: “For many months now, staff have been raising serious concerns with me about patient safety, workforce pressures and a culture in which they do not feel listened to or supported. Despite repeated assurances from the trust, clinicians and support staff continue to report unsafe workloads, rota gaps, cancelled clinics and a lack of transparency around decision-making. They have consistently told me that their concerns are not being properly heard.”
Ms Long Bailey called for “a full and transparent review” of safety concerns, meaningful engagement with unions and frontline clinicians, and publication of the findings. “Patient safety must come first,” she said. Staff reported feeling “silenced” when raising concerns, and that patients, including those with cancer, had been affected by delays – including missed diagnoses.
One source who works in the department said: “Everything really fell apart… There has been a loss of moral compass and a sense of what’s safe.” Another staff member added: “The gynaecology department at Salford Royal Hospital has always been sort of neglected, they didn’t give us enough nurses, they don’t give us new consultants, they don’t really bother trying to improve our services at all. It comes to the point where you start asking for things, and they don’t listen to you; it gets quite disheartening.”
The trust has declined to comment on the status of Dr Wolfe, but sources have confirmed he is still working at Salford Royal Hospital. He is listed as a consultant and cancer lead within the gynaecology department. When approached for comment, Dr Wolfe referred inquiries to the NCA.
Previous inspections by the CQC have also raised concerns. In December 2022 the regulator rated the hospital’s surgical services, including gynaecology, as “requires improvement”. A subsequent inspection in September 2025 led to an urgent warning notice for governance and safety failures in gynaecology, spinal and neurosurgery services. The CQC found that patients were not always protected from abuse or improper treatment, risk assessments were not consistently completed, and deteriorating health was not always managed appropriately. Patients reported delays in pain relief and feeling uncomfortable asking for help because of earlier delays. The CQC identified 11 regulatory breaches, many of which had been flagged in the 2022 inspection. The overall rating for Salford Royal Hospital and the NCA trust remains “requires improvement”.
Figures obtained by Medical Negligence Assist show that the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust paid out nearly £4 million in gynaecology medical negligence claims between 2019 and 2024. During that period, 50 claims and incidents were reported to NHS Resolution – the highest number among Greater Manchester NHS trusts.
The NCA, which manages Salford Royal Hospital along with The Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital, and Rochdale Infirmary, serves around one million people. Its gynaecology services cover a range of conditions including pelvic pain, period problems and gynaecological cancers. The trust has said a new leadership team is implementing improvements and has been advised to report to the board on how cultural issues across the service are being addressed.