PATIENTS at Colchester’s accident and emergency department have endured longer waits since the cancer scandal broke, it has been revealed.

More patients are also waiting too long to be discharged following operations at Colchester General Hospital because the follow-up care they need is not available.

The meeting was also told Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust’s patient advice and liaisons service had received a record 243 complaints in the last three weeks.

A meeting of the NHS North East Essex clinical commissioning group board heard there had been a “step change” in pressure on hospital services since the cancer scandal.

The Care Quality Commission revealed on November 5 staff had been bullied into altering cancer patient data to hit targets Sam Hepplethwhite, the group’s chief operating officer, said: “We know the Care Quality Commission report has had a significant effect on the hospital.

“There are stil people staying in hospital for a delayed period.

“That has got to the point where there are an unacceptable number of people being delayed.

“Historically we have worked well together with social care but in the last five weeks there has been a step change.

“Our performance in A&E has also deteriorated.

“The numbers of delays have increased because the movement through the hospital is just not happening as well as it could.”

All A&E departments are told to treat at least 95 per cent of patients within four hours of their arrival.

Hospitals are also told to minimise the number of patients “bed-blocking” – staying in wards when they are fit to be discharged.

Mrs Hepplewhite said: “We’re meeting with NHS England and the hospital to put some urgent action in place to review that position.

“We need to consider the impact that’s having on patient experience and get that sorted out very soon.”

Essex Police, NHS England, Monitor and the hospital trust itself are all carrying out investigations into the cancer scandal.