When clients approach me about a possible clinical negligence claim, a consistent question that they ask is ‘what will change?’ when it comes to the relevant medical professional, hospital or trust. The sad reality is that there is no easy answer to that question. All we, as lawyers, can say and hope, is that in bringing a claim the relevant organisation will look into what happened and use it as an opportunity to learn lessons; hoping to improve patient safety.   

This week, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust reported that following a review into an Orthopaedic Surgeon (Mr Mian Munawar Shah)'s former patients, more than 90 have received ‘sufficiently suboptimal’ care such as to have caused them ‘moderate or severe harm’. Notably, Mr Shah was performing operations that he did not have the necessary abilities to perform, putting patients in danger and ultimately causing irreversible harm to many. Further, it has been reported that repeated concerns about Mr Shah were raised several years before he was stopped. 

This week's report is on the back of reports into Mr Jabbar in November 2024 and the treatment he provided at Great Ormond Street Hospital and reports only last month about Dr Stan, and the unnecessary intimate and invasive procedures he was performing at Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust for his own sexual gratification. 

I should say, the medical professionals acting in this way are very few indeed. It does however pose the question of whether medical organisations sufficiently analyse the data available in the clinical negligence claims that are being put to them. What steps are taken to record and spot possible patterns, that could ultimately stop professionals such as Mr Shah, Mr Jabbar and Dr Stan? 

Often, when people hear ‘clinical negligence solicitor’, they think of a person obtaining compensation. However, at Anthony Collins, our team are much more concerned with patient safety, and the opportunity for learning. Perhaps now is the time for medical organisations to look further into how they analyse the data available at their fingertips and an opportunity for learning. 

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