THREE hospital staff have been suspended as a result of an inquiry into waiting list discrepancies at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

In February it was found that 131 people waiting more than 18 months for routine operations at Stoke Mandeville were not on the long waiters list. No patient is meant to wait more than 18 months.

Hospital board chairman, Gillian Miscampbell, was told by regional chairman William Wells to resign or be sacked. She resigned.

The three suspended staff are now on paid leave waiting to find out whether they face disciplinary charges.

This week's report, by the hospital's external auditors, finds that breaches were caused for reasons including the pressure the hospital was under and lack of monitoring. In a third of cases potential long waiters had been taken off the list and put on a reserved list.

Mrs Miscampbell told the Free Press there there were mistakes but no dishonesty. If the auditors had found it they would have said so. The report exonerated the trust board, she said.

She said the hospital had no chief executive, was dealing with three PFI bids, had budget cuts, was suffering from lack of staff, and had ward and theatre closures. She added that management constantly looked for new ways to increase the number of operations.