Thread by @ShaunLintern

Read my 2-year investigation into how @NHSEngland ‘buried’ concerns over child cancer services: hsj.co.uk/policy-and-reg…

Former London medical director Andy Mitchell tells HSJ "pervasive influence from the top” of @NHSEngland buried a report into concerns about @royalmarsdenNHS following child deaths:

A report by Prof Mike Stevens and a panel of nine paediatric expert clinicians was buried by @NHSEngland HSJ is today publishing it for the first time:

Two-year-old Alice Mason died in "terrible agony" her father Gareth asks today: "Why are they so frightened to talk about this?" He believes @NHSEngland covered-up concerns about the @royalmarsdenNHS model

The 2015 report raising concerns about children needing intensive care being transferred from @royalmarsdenNHS wasn't the first. HSJ has learned concerns were raised as far back as 2011 by an NCAT review led by Prof Ian Lewis:

This isn't all historic either - just weeks ago draft standards for children's cancer services were "softened" by the national cancer team (headed by the Marsden's Cally Palmer) with "no clinical justification"

The CQC found some children had to endure multiple transfers for intensive care between the Marsden and St George's. A source told HSJ it was only deemed safe because "they export the risk, their patients..."

Internal emails between @NHSEngland officials reveal concern over the "cover-up" with one referencing the Bristol child surgery scandal warning: "there is the potential for this to blow up in our faces"...

"When we got to St George’s, he was put straight on IV pain relief and we just saw this little boy uncurl, it was one of the worst moments. His suffering was completely avoidable.”

Clinicians at @royalmarsdenNHS told HSJ they shared the concerns about its lack of intensive care facilities. One said: "This has been ongoing for years. Many of us are uncomfortable about it...the message has come down very clearly this is not a problem."

“If NHSE can suppress reports and issues like this how can we be certain it hasn’t done this with other areas?” - read the views of multiple senior NHS sources on issues exposed by HSJ today:

Here is the 2015 report that @NHSEngland and @royalmarsdenNHS never wanted to see the light of day. Download it, read it or share it in memory of children Daniel Strong and Alice Mason: drive.google.com/file/d/11kaC2R…

Read the internal @NHSEngland emails where officials raise concerns about the 'cover-up' and warn "there is the potential for this to blow up in our faces"

"The existing fragmentation of paediatric specialist services in London creates a challenge… on a scale unlike that which may exist elsewhere in the UK, and which must be addressed" - It was not. Read more from the covered up report here:

Way back in 2011 experts said the model of care at @royalmarsdenNHS did not meet standards...it said RM failed to recognise its responsibility for incidents. Read how its CEO Cally Palmer responded below. The model remains largely unchanged today:

"To be shunted around London in circumstances when children are critically ill is not the best way to manage them. The fragmentation of the service as it currently exists does not facilitate the best quality of care" - Dr Andy Mitchell, former @NHSEngland London medical director

This major HSJ investigation is now FREE to read.

Investigation: The cancer service failings covered up for years hsj.co.uk/policy-and-reg…