Whistleblowing doctor resigns from Stafford Hospital

A top consultant who raised concerns about patient care at Stafford Hospital has announced his resignation.

Dr Pradip Singh said he was leaving his role as consultant gastroenterologist after 17 years "out of sheer frustration". He hit the headlines in March 2009, when he was suspended after pointing out the lack of nurses on ward rounds. He was then reinstated a week later.

During evidence at public inquiries into the hospital, Dr Singh claimed he was seen as a "troublemaker" by chiefs.

And today he blamed his sudden departure on issues such as the hiring of outside consultants to clear backlogs of patients waiting for treatment, and delays installing a new endoscopy unit at Stafford, which he said has been in the pipeline for four years.

"Out of sheer frustration and in order to preserve my self-respect and dignity, I tendered my resignation from the post of consultant gastroenterologist," he said.

Lyn Hill-Tout, chief executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed Dr Singh had handed in his notice.

She said: "Patients can be assured that arrangements are already in place to ensure that services will not be affected."

Mrs Hill-Tout said in June she was looking to appoint another consultant in gastroenterology as the department was struggling with a backlog of patients waiting more than 18 weeks between referral and treatment.

She said today: "We are making good progress in bringing down our waiting times for these areas."

Dr Singh told inquiries about poor care at Stafford Hospital and the failure of regulators to intervene.

Appearing before Robert Francis QC last year, he said he had witnessed a shocking decline in standards over the course of a decade. He claimed he had attempted to raise his concerns through letters and emails but they were ignored by bosses.