Risks from conflict between GOSH surgeons.

Conflict between two Great Ormond Street Hospital surgeons could put patients at risk, a review suggests.

A board paper released by the leading children's hospital said a "fractured" relationship between two consultants in the paediatric surgical urology team was affecting the service.

It said the problems had an effected the whole team, creating the potential for longer waits for sick children.

The London hospital said steps, including mediation, mentoring and away-days, were being taken to resolve the problems.

Great Ormond Street said it took the issue "extremely seriously" and good progress was being made.

The surgical urology team treats more than 3,000 UK children a year, operating on everything from kidney to bladder problems.

The board paper set out the findings of a two-day inspection in May 2019 by the Royal College of Surgeons, which was invited by the trust after reports of problems.

In its summary, the report said there were "significant difficulties" between two surgeons in the team that had led to a "lack of trust and respect" which meant they did not work collaboratively and led to significant competition for work.

The report said that, if this continued, it had the "potential to affect patient care and safety" as well as longer waits for surgery.

It added that the "dysfunction" between the two senior doctors caused problems for the wider team with evidence that support staff had also been treated inappropriately.

The problems also led to one consultant not always attending important team meetings and also meant that, at times, management had to focus on the two surgeons to the "detriment" of the rest of the team.

The report also questioned how effectively the trust had handled the dispute.

A trust spokeswoman said: "There has been really good progress concerning the issues in the report. Successful mediation and the first away days have taken place and very constructive conversations have happened between all consultants.

"The report recognises they are a group of excellent, dedicated surgeons who look after patients well and they are now working together to shape their services to better serve the needs of their patients."