An orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in treating children has been suspended from a hospital in Cambridge after nine surgeries were found to fall “below expected standards”.
A review was commissioned in October after colleagues raised concerns about the doctor.
The review, completed in January, looked at a number of complex paediatric hip surgery cases performed at the unit over two and a half years.
It found the outcomes of treatment provided to nine children were “below the standard we would expect”, Cambridge University Hospitals chief executive Roland Sinker said. The impacted families were approached by the hospital.
The surgeries did not involve loss of life or limb but in some cases impacted the children’s quality of life, the Trust said. The surgeon was put on restricted duties while an investigation took place.
After the review, they were suspended and are “fully co-operating with the Trust’s process”, Mr Sinker said.
Now the Trust is undertaking a retrospective review into all of the planned surgical operations carried out by the individual during their employment. This will review the quality of care received by those patients and schedule any further clinic assessments.
“We are very sorry that this has happened and we apologise unreservedly to our patients and their families,” Mr Sinker said.
The Trust said it had also informed the General Medical Council, NHS England and the Care Quality Commission.
“We will identify whether there were any opportunities to have identified these concerns earlier as well as any wider learning and changes required in the immediate and longer term,” Mr Sinker said.
A helpline has been launched for any parents concerned their children may have been impacted. Any patients or families who are concerned about their care can contact 0808 175 6331 or email [email protected], the Trust said.
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