A hospital passed its most recent inspection after complaints of a failing IT system making patients unsafe.

The Royal Free in Hampstead was inspected by health regulator the Care and Quality Commission (CQC) after they received anonymous tips that the new IT record system meant patients were "harmed" or at a higher risk of harm.

While the nature of this harm was not specified, the CQC decided patients had not been harmed as a result of the new system, and in fact the mortality rate over the past year was well below the national average.

In fact, the report found the key risk to patient safety was in fact the short staffing in the hospital, with 29 percent vacancy rate in the nursing team and a 26 percent vacancy rate amongst junior doctors at the hospital.

The Chief Inspector of Hospitals Prof. Ted Baker said in his report: "The inspection was conducted because the CQC had received anonymous information that the implementation of a new patient record IT system (CCCIS) had meant patients had been harmed, and was creating an ongoing a risk to patient safety.

"During our inspection we found no evidence that patients had been harmed or were at a higher risk of harm as a result

of the implementation and use of the new IT system."

He also noted that the CCCIS system had not been used since July 2017 due to issues.

A spokesperson from the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, which also manages Barnet General Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital, said: "The Care Quality Commission has raised no safety concerns about the Royal Free Hospital intensive care unit which is rated ‘good’ by the regulator.

"At the time of the visit, the implementation of the IT system had already been stopped and the inspectors unequivocally found no evidence that its introduction had meant patients had been harmed in any way."

The hospital also commented that the difficulties with staff are "a challenge across the NHS" and they are working hard to recruit.