BROMSGROVE MP Sajid Javid has demanded answers after a computer blunder meant 22,000 letters to GPs about their patients were never sent.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was forced to apologise this week after revealing a backlog of letters dating from 2011 to 2017 had never left their system.

The letters should have informed GPs when their patients attended outpatient appointments or hospital departments, or if follow up care was required.

An investigation is underway to determine how the blunder, described as a 'computer error', was allowed to take place.

Mr Javid called it "unacceptable" and has written to the trust's chief executive Michelle McKay to demand answers.

He said: "I'm very disappointed to hear this news. This is unacceptable for residents and must be urgently addressed.

"I have written to the new chief executive to make my views clear and demand answers.

"It's important that the Trust gets to the bottom of this case to investigate the causes, learn the lessons, and ensure there is no repeat."

The blunder, which came to light on August 9, comes in the same week the trust was told to make urgent improvements following a Care Quality Commission inspection.

An initial review of the letters and has found 11,000 of these required no further medical action, with the remaining 11,000 letters now set to be urgently reviewed.

Ms McKay said: “We are sorry that some letters within the trust’s document management system have not been processed properly.

“We regret that this means some patients may not have received the follow-up care they should have.

“We are working closely with our primary care colleagues and partner health organisations to urgently review the individual cases of these patients and to ensure, where appropriate, patients receive the necessary follow-up care quickly.

“An investigation is underway to understand how this has happened, so we can put systems in place to avoid it happening again.

“This is a serious issue which we are working hard to quickly address, however it is important we reassure our local communities that more than half a million patients are seen in our outpatient departments each year and the vast majority of these patients will have had the appropriate letters sent to ensure they receive the right follow-up care.”

The review is expected to be completed by the end of September.

Patients who have been adversely affected by the blunder will be contacted by the trust.

Any patients who feel they may have been adversely affected by this can contact the PALS Service on 0300 123 1732 or via wah-tr.PET@nhs.net.