HOSPITAL bosses say they have ironed out problems with a computer system which had been leaving doctors and patients in the dark.

Glitches in the patient record system at Worcester Royal Infirmary, Kidderminster General and the Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, meant dozens of patients missed appointments because no official notification was sent out.

Consultants also often had empty clinics because patients did not know they were meant to attend.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust claims it has now dealt with many of the problems.

"These kind of changes are very difficult and we've had more problems than we expected," said Colin Bexley, director of information for the Trust.

"The kind of problems we were experiencing in the first eight weeks have now reduced significantly and, although the system isn't working to the level I'd like, it's still a perfectly acceptable system.

"The extra staff we've put in place are only now becoming effective and will improve things significantly."

The Trust has now decided to install a single medical records centre, and will erase duplicate records from the system to avoid confusion.

An action plan to improve accuracy will also be put in place.

The problems arose after all three hospitals had to convert to the system used in Kidderminster.

They had previously used three different systems, and the Kidderminster one was chosen because contracts for the other two were due to run out.

When the contract on the current system runs out, a new state-of-the-art one will be installed.

Mr Bexley is due to report on the progress made to the Trust board meeting in February.