HEALTH chiefs say an investigation into waiting list irregularities at the Royal Bolton Hospital will not lose them any money.

Acting chief executive Joanna Wallace told a board meeting on Monday night that hospitals were not punished for losing stars in the annual star ratings -- just rewarded if their rating went up.

Last week the Bolton Evening News reported that a spot check by the Audit Commission found a senior manager had said no patients had waited more than 12 months to be offered operation dates -- in fact, there were 83. The senior manager is now the subject of a disciplinary investigation.

The hospital currently has a star rating of two, meaning good. It will not be known if a star will be taken away because of the findings until the Audit Commission produces its official report, expected in the next few weeks. But the findings will almost certainly be detrimental to the Trust's chances of obtaining a three-star rating in the near future.

Ms Wallace said: "We are a two-star Trust at the moment and a three-star Trust would receive a further £1 million.

"It does not apply that, when losing stars, we would lose a million."

Peter Liptrot, chairman of the board, said the Board would not dwell on the findings of the investigation.

He assured board members chief executive John Brunt was not off sick because of the findings, and he hoped Ms Wallace would be able to return to her regular job shortly. Ms Wallace is chief executive of Christie NHS Trust and will work for the Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust four days a week, and one day a week at Christie's, until further notice.

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of the Health, Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Bolton Council, said: "We have been reassured that the Trust will not be financially penalised.

"The important thing is that it is business as usual and there will be no detrimental effect on patient services."

"The Health, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and local authority will continue to monitor for any fall-out from the Audit Commission's findings to ensure Bolton residents continue to receive good quality services."

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