AN investigation has been completed into a series of botched eye operations at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital – but the report isn’t being made public.

Patients and key members of staff have been told that “a number of factors” led to an “unusually high level of complications” during dozens of cataract operations carried out by a private firm.

The boss of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd, which was hired to perform the operations to cut waiting lists, says no problems have been identified with the mobile theatre used.

Musgrove has refused to release the report into what went wrong to the County Gazette, citing “legal reasons”.

But a lawyer chasing compensation claims for some of the 31 of 62 patients affected says it is in the public interest to know why so many people suffered blurred vision and swollen corneas leading to the need for follow up treatment in some cases.

Laurence Vick said: “The public needs to see this report – not just the patients.

“People have a right to know what went wrong with this contract and whether lessons have been learned.

“I’m unhappy at the lack of transparency.”

Vanguard’s £320,000 contract to carry out 400 cataract operations in a mobile unit in a car park at Musgrove in May was cancelled after the problems came to light.

Referring to the investigation that followed, a hospital spokeswoman this week said: “As with similar ophthalmic incident clusters, there is no clear single cause for the range of problems our patients appear to have experienced following surgery in the Vanguard mobile theatre.

“Instead, we have identified a number of factors which may have led to the unusually high level of complications seen.

“The detail of the investigation has been shared with patients.”

She added that the hospital trust has been working closely with the patients who suffered adverse reactions to ensure they get “the best possible ongoing care and treatment”.

She said: “We have identified a number of learning points from this incident, many of which have already been implemented as a result of the investigation and others which will be implemented over time.

“Our intention is to also share our learning across the healthcare community so that the incident can be reflected on more widely.”

Vanguard chief executive Ian Gillespie said: “Our focus remains first and foremost on the patients and their care, and I'd like to personally convey my sympathy for any patients who have experienced discomfort or distress.

“This was a collaborative contract, and we have been working closely with the trust throughout this investigation.

“The investigation does not identify any one cause, but instead points to a number of different factors which may have led to the complications experienced by patients.

“No issues have been identified with the Vanguard mobile theatre facility itself.

“However, there are clearly lessons to be learnt by all parties.

“We are working with the trust to ensure that measures are put in place to prevent this happening again.”