CALLS are growing for a system to refer patients for hospital treatment to be ditched after a serious failure was uncovered.

Nearly 2,000 referrals from GPs in Enfield were delayed because of understaffing at the NHS Enfield Specialist Clinical Assessment Service – known as SCAS.

A serious investigation was launched at the end of April, with extra staff were drafted in to urgently sort the delayed referrals, and the investigation is ongoing.

John Lynch, chairman of patients' voice Enfield LINk, said on Wednesday it was time to axe the service after this incident.

He said: “Our prime proposal is to do away with SCAS. In our opinion, it is not necessary from the point of view of patients.

“There is really no need for SCAS, except perhaps for saving money somehow for the PCT. But from the patients' perspective, when you are told you are being referred, that should be that.”

Enfield health boss Nigel Beverley, answering questions on the delays at a meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel, said the SCAS system was being “looked at” as part of a wider review.

But he insisted any change in process should involved the input of GP commissioners who are due to take on the role of NHS Enfield.

Mr Beverley said all the referrals had been originally designated as non-urgent, and after clinicians were brought in to review the case, none had been found to be serious.

All patients affected have been phoned or written to be the health body to apologise for the problem.

Mr Beverley added no patient had been forced to wait longer than six weeks for an appointment, and none of the case related to cancer.