Families criticise redacted report into disgraced surgeon

Lawyers representing children who developed semipermanent symptom and wounded aft operations astatine Great Ormond Street Hospital person criticised a heavy redacted study carried retired for the trust.

More than 700 cases linked to the surgeon Yaser Jabbar are being reviewed including immoderate involving limb lengthening and straightening.

Some of the cases which truthful acold person been investigated were recovered to person resulted successful harm, lifelong wounded and adjacent amputation.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) commissioned a study by the Royal College of Surgeons which was handed successful a twelvemonth ago. But it has lone been released this week to immoderate of the families.

The study - seen by the BBC - said determination were superior concerns successful narration to moving culture, with immoderate unit upset astir the modular of attraction and saying the situation was "toxic" and that immoderate country done connected children was "inappropriate" and "incorrect".

Georgina Wade, from Tees Law, said families were hoping that GOSH would beryllium "open, transparent, and candid".

"The study is sadly heavy redacted and does not spell acold capable to providing the answers the families request to recognize what has happened to their children."

She called for the unredacted study to beryllium published.

Dean, whose girl Bunty was operated connected aggregate times by Mr Jabbar astatine Great Ormond Street until her little limb was yet amputated, says: "I’ve been begging and warring for accusation from GOSH for 3 and a fractional years.

"The redacted study is conscionable different disappointment and illustration of the secrecy that envelopes this situation."

Sammy, the parent of different kid who was operated connected by Mr Jabbar, said she was angry: “I consciousness frustrated that we person not been provided with the afloat study – George deserves answers, and it feels similar we are being kept successful the dark, and accusation is being withheld from the families.

"I besides was shocked to work of immoderate of the behaviours that were documented successful the report; had I known this was going connected successful the inheritance I would ne'er person allowed George to beryllium treated there.”

The study highlights a fig of issues successful the analyzable lower-limb reconstruction portion astatine GOSH, including "a deficiency of a cohesive, agreed and functional squad and department" compounded "by a deficiency of absorption and effectual absorption and leadership".

Staff successful operating theatres did not ever consciousness assured to rise questions oregon issues implicit important elements of diligent attraction with surgeons.

The GOSH Trust "had not been delivering a harmless work for patients", the reappraisal squad added.

A spokesperson for GOSH says the infirmary is "deeply atrocious to each the families impacted by the reappraisal into our Paediatric Orthopaedic service", adding: “We stay wholly committed to addressing each the concerns raised successful the reappraisal and volition invitation the [Royal College of Surgeons] backmost to reappraisal our advancement adjacent year."

The BBC approached the Royal College of Surgeons for comment.

BBC News has besides learned that Mr Jabbar worked astatine 4 different London hospitals including 3 successful the backstage assemblage - St John and St Elizabeth, the Cromwell and the Portland.

St John and St Elizabeth Hospital said determination had been 3 big inpatient procedures determination betwixt October 2020 and January 2023, erstwhile Mr Jabbar had had practising privileges there, but nary concerns had been raised astir his practice.

"Alongside respective different providers, we are moving intimately with Great Ormond Street Hospital to assistance them successful their review," the infirmary said.

Cromwell Hospital said Mr Jabbar had operated connected 12 adults and six children, during the abbreviated clip helium worked there.

"We received nary complaints astir Mr Jabbar’s treatment," it said.

"Since the concerns astir Mr Jabbar came to light, we person proactively contacted each patients straight and are continuing to enactment successful adjacent interaction portion this probe proceeds."

The infirmary was committed to the highest standards of care, it added.

He besides worked astatine the Portland infirmary and astatine an NHS trust, the Chelsea and Westminster.