General surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn is now being led by the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N) after a review into 17 cases was carried out by regulator the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS).

Hospital bosses have apologised to affected patients, while the QEH added in a statement: "This situation is now changed.

"The QEH now benefits from unified permanent strategic leadership and oversight as part of its inclusion in the new Norfolk and Waveney Hospital Group.

"These issues have not arisen overnight. They are deep seated and have been long lasting."

General surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will now be led by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (Image: Mike Page)

General surgery is now operating under "mandated" leadership from the N&N, while a move towards a shared service is being explored.

The RCS, which was first called in two years ago after concerns were raised by staff and a whistle-blower at the QEH, said: "In eight cases, the quality and safety of surgical care were considered to have been unacceptable."

It questioned whether surgeons who performed three operations had "sufficient competencies" to do so, adding: "In these cases, the standard of surgical care was considered to have been unacceptable."

In a report published on Thursday (December 18), the RCS added when reviewing the post-operative care provided to patients, it found there had been a delay in the recognition of post-operative complications in four........

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