POLICE have launched a criminal investigation into the Colchester hospitals cancer scandal.

Three weeks ago Essex Police was passed evidence by the Care Quality Commission from Colchester Hospitals Trust whistleblowers claiming they had been bullied into manipulating the data of cancer patients to hit treatment targets.

Now, officers say they have seen enough information to launch a criminal investigation to discover whether any offences have been committed.

 

A spokesman said: "Essex Police is working with NHS England, the Trust and other health organisations to ensure that, throughout its investigation, the priority remains the safety and welfare of the public."

 

 

A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust remains focused and determined to get to the bottom of all of the concerns and issued raised in the Care Quality Commission report into our cancer services, which was published on 5 November.

“That is why we have been working closely with many agencies, including Essex Police, professional regulators, NHS England and North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, and will continue to do so.”

If anyone has information they believe is of relevance to the police enquiry they should contact Essex Police on 101.