NHS Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is in the press this week, after announcing its review of 721 patients. The review comes following an investigation which found that children treated by one of its surgeons came to ‘severe harm’ whilst undergoing orthopaedic surgery. 

An external review has found out of 39 patients reviewed, 13 of them suffered ‘severe harm’ at the hands of the orthopaedic surgeon at GOSH. Concerns about the surgeon were voiced by families in 2022 which led to an investigation.   

Some of the injuries suffered by the children included one child who was left with one leg 20cm shorter than the other and another child who had a limb amputated. Other children have been left with ongoing chronic pain as a result of the surgeon's negligence. All of these injuries have been confirmed as avoidable. 

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) raised concerns regarding the practice of the surgeon and have stated they are taking this ‘incredibly seriously’. 

RCS' review findings state that GOSH's orthopaedic surgery department was ‘dysfunctional’. The review found that consultants at the trust behaved in ways that were ‘outdated’ and ‘unacceptable’.

The trust has confirmed that the surgeon in question is no longer an employee.

Parents whose children have been affected by the above negligence have come forward to express their anger and frustration towards the trust. They feel that their concerns were ‘brushed under the carpet’ when complaints about the surgeon were initially made. 

Our clients going through clinical negligence claims range in age from babies through to the elderly. This ongoing news story proves that clinical negligence can happen to people of any age or ability.

I'm sure that no amount of monetary compensation will cover just how much pain is being caused to these children and their families at this time, however, compensation could assist with treatment such as rehabilitation and counselling. A clinical negligence claim could also provide families with some level of closure regarding their child's injuries. 

For more information regarding clinical negligence claims please contact me.