PROBLEMS with medical records have led to the health regulator stepping into take action at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Monitor launched an investigation into the hospital last month and found problems with record-keeping meant the Trust could not accurately say whether it was meeting national waiting times - putting the Royal Berks in breach its licence.

Now the Trust has been told to develop and deliver a plan of action to improve its data on waiting times and get back on track and make sure patients are seen and treated in an appropriate order.

Monitor’s regional director Paul Streat stressed that chief executive Jean O’Callaghan has been trying to resolve the problems since her arrival in August, and said the regulator will work with her.

He added: “We are taking action to make sure that Royal Berkshire Hospital fixes problems with the way it is being run and its finances.

“We want to make sure that the trust is better organised, so that patients who come to the hospital receive quality care in a timely manner, and this is properly checked and recorded.”

Hospital bosses have also agreed to take action over the way senior staff keep an eye on patient care after Monitor highlighted a lack of clarity around who is responsible for identifying and managing potential risks.

An investigation was launched on Thursday, November 20, following concerns about the hospital’s ability to meet national waiting time targets and fears it may suffer larger than expected financial losses

It is the second time the Trust has been probed by the regulator in 18-months after Monitor stepped in August over repeated failures to meet the national A&E waiting time targets.

The health regulator will continue to monitor the Trust’s efforts to improve, and will take further action if necessary.

But while Mrs O’Callaghan admitted that the hospital does have issues that need addressed it is working closely with Monitor to improve them.

She added: "We are determined to ensure the Trust delivers on all its obligations to patients and we will continue to work with Monitor to ensure it is done as quickly as possible.

“Importantly, we would emphasise that, as always, we are providing high quality and safe care for all our patients.

"Every member of our staff is firmly committed to ensuring that we always do what is right for our patients.”