Guilty trusts

Barts and the London Guy's and St Thomas's, London Plymouth General Hospital Redbridge Health Care Salford Royal South Warwickshire General Stoke Mandeville Surrey and Sussex Healthcare University College London

It was found patients were "inappropriately suspended" from the waiting list to avoid reporting breaches of the 18-month maximum wait.

A Board meeting of the NHS trust in 1999 decided that no individual members of staff should take the blame.

In a statement, the trust's current chief executive Dr Jonathan Michael, who joined the organisation in 2000, said: "Following an investigation, the trust Board concluded that it was inappropriate to take disciplinary measures against the relatively junior members of staff involved, but the Board should accept corporate responsibility for what had happened.

"We are confident that the same situation could not happen again."

Univesity College London Hospitals NHS Trust

At UCH London Hospitals Trust, five cardiac patient records were altered in May 1999.

Dominic Conlin, the Directorate Manager for Cardiac Services, resigned before the waiting list adjustments came to light after admitting making four out of the five adjustments.

He was re-employed within the NHS.

In a statement, the trust said: "Since the incident, the trust has made changes to its cardiac policies, including: measures to reinforce password security standards, to centralise admissions and to revise the management waiting list procedures."

Redbridge Health Care

At Redbridge Health Centre, up to 300 people were suspended from the waiting list between May and July 1999.

The trust suspended Ian McKay, the general manager in Surgery and Specialist Services, after an internal investigation.

The problem was considered to be an organisational and systemic failure and no one individual was to blame

Barts and London NHS Trust

He resigned from the trust in November 1999, at the trust's request.

During his suspension, he was seconded to a health authority, where he is still currently working as programme manager for children's services.

The NHS trust issued a statement saying: "The trust's investigation resulted in an improved process around waiting list management, which the regional office performance management team noted when they visited the trust to review events in spring 2000."

Barts and the London NHS Trust

London's Bart's and the London NHS Trust saw patient records altered, inappropriate suspensions from waiting lists; patients deleted from waiting lists and other inappropriate adjustments.

A total of 22 patients waited more than 18 months, but the total number of people affected by manipulation of the figures is not known.

No disciplinary action was taken against the junior manager responsible.

In a statement, the trust said: "The problem was considered to be an organisational and systemic failure and no one individual was to blame."

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare

At Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, there were inappropriate suspensions, patients were not added to the waiting list and the lists were inappropriately adjusted.

A total of 1,800 patients were involved between 1998 and 1999.

The trust has since implemented in full, the recommendations of the Heather Lawrence report on waiting lists

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

The chief executive left before the problems came to light and the inquiry did not state who was directly responsible .

Ken Cunningham, the trust's current chief executive, said: "I raised concerns about our waiting list reports shortly after I joined the trust in June 2000.

"I immediately put in place actions to change the working practices so as to ensure that all staff reported waiting list figures according to the national guidelines and in line with best practice."

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

There were a number of faults at Plymouth, including inappropriate suspensions and delays in adding patients to the list.

Around 250 people were affected by suspensions, but it is not known how many others were involved.

Two individuals were suspended on full pay, who subsequently agreed to resign on payment of compensation.

Both were re-employed in the NHS.

In a statement, the trust said: "The waiting list irregularities in Plymouth occurred over two years ago.

"The trust has since implemented in full, the recommendations of the Heather Lawrence report on waiting lists and has done its best to move forward."

Stoke Mandeville

Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust's irregularities included, inappropriate suspensions, and other errors.

Disciplinary actions began against three individuals, who were suspended on full pay from June 2001.

All staff at the hospital are working very hard to achieve patient standards

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Two have since retired or resigned.

In a statement, the trust said: "All staff at the hospital are working very hard to achieve patient standards and implement new systems for recording and monitoring waiting lists."

Salford Royal

Nearly 1,400 people were affected by inappropriate adjustments at Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, where responsibilities are still being investigated.

The trust's new chief executive David Dalton said: "All our administrative systems have been reviewed and improved."

South Warwickshire

There were delays in putting patients on the waiting list at South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust, with up to 2,000 people affected.

Following an investigation, the trust's chief executive, Andrew Riley, was suspended on full pay and then agreed to resign.

As at the end of November 2001, the trust has made excellent progress in addressing its waiting list targets

Christopher Heginbotham, Salford Royal Hospitals

A compromise agreement was reached to pay Mr Riley �22,500.

He has since been re-employed by the NHS.

The trust's new chief executive, Christopher Heginbotham, said: "As at the end of November 2001, the trust has made excellent progress in addressing its waiting list targets.

"It is continuing to work with al appropriate agencies to monitor systems and maintain best practice in all areas including waiting list management."