A PROBE is being launched by Worcestershire health bosses after revelations that patients of two senior NHS consultants were referred for treatment at their own private clinic following the loss of the service at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust (WAHT) is setting up an independent investigation after patients of clinical directors Steve Pandey (correct) and Stephen Lake - who each earn around £100,000 a year from the NHS - were referred for treatment at their clinic in Worcester at a cost to taxpayers of up to £1 million.

But the trust's chief executive says the two consultants - who, along with other leading clinicians, were involved in the review that led to the centralisation of bowel surgery at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the closure of the service at the Alex - have assured bosses there has been "no wrongdoing" on their part.

"Save the Alex" campaigners have welcomed the investigation, with chairman Neal (correct) Stote saying: "It makes you feel a bit queasy that, after talking about centralising services, two consultants set up a private clinic and then, after centralising in Worcester, a lot of patients are referred to the private clinic.

"Nobody is saying there is anything wrong in it at the moment. But if the trust wants us to have faith in the process they need to be open and this investigation must be independent and public."

Shadow health secretary Diane Abbott has also waded into the issue and is quoted in the Morning Star newspaper demanding that the Government explains how consultants already paid by the public purse can "be allowed to profit when the NHS is at breaking point".

The Worcestershire Bowel Clinic - set up in 2012 at Worcester's private Spire South Bank Hospital by Mr Pandey, WAHT's clinical director of colorectal surgery, and Mr Lake, clinical director of endoscopy - began receiving patients referred for endoscopy and colonoscopy tests, which are essential for detecting bowel cancer, from September 2013.

The referrals were to help the trust to meet cancer targets because Worcestershire Royal Hospital was at full capacity and were paid for through the taxpayer-funded "Waiting List Initiatives".

WAHT chief executive Chris Tidman announced the independent investigation after the Birmingham Mail discovered that £1 million had been spent by the Trust referring some NHS cancer patients via Spire South Bank Hospital to the Worcestershire Bowel Cllinic.

Mr Tidman said: “The two consultants are aware of the concerns and have assured us that there has been no wrongdoing on their part and have agreed to fully cooperate and participate in the investigation.

“As a matter of record both consultants declared an interest to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in 2015.

“We have not been able to trace any formal declaration of interest from either of the consultants prior to this but this doesn’t necessarily indicate any wrongdoing, again this will be further examined by the independent review."

Mr Tidman added: “The centralisation of bowel surgery services was a commissioner led initiative and was based on clinical evidence and best practice aimed at improving standards and outcomes for patients.

“As experienced clinicians, the two consultants were involved in the work leading to centralisation but the decision making process involved other surgeons, clinical teams including GPs. “It is correct to state that the Trust did not run a competitive procurement to select Spire as its endoscopy provider and there was no requirement to do so.

“Outsourcing to this provider was originally initiated by South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and we were advised to send 300 patients initially to assist with increasing demand and shortfall in capacity."

A WAHT spokesman said that neither Mr Pandey nor Mr Lake wished to comment while an investigation was pending.