Addenbrooke’s Hospital have suspended a Paediatric Surgeon amidst concerns on the standard of his care to children and adults
26 March 2025
Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, part of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have issued a statement from the Chief Executive, Roland Sinker, stating that they have commissioned an external review into the practice of an unnamed orthopaedic surgeon who specialised in paediatric surgery, but also undertook emergency orthopaedic surgery on adults.
The external review which was completed in January 2025 concentrated on a number of complex hip surgery cases performed by the surgeon over the past 2 ½ years. The review identified that the outcomes of treatment for 9 children were below the standard expected and that they and their families were entitled to expect better. The outcomes have impacted on their quality of life.
The surgeon had restricted clinical practice since 2024 but was suspended following the outcome of the external review. The General Medical Council have been informed.
The Trust is contacting the patients and their families identified through the review.
However, the Trust have also commissioned a further external review into all the planned surgical operations carried out by the surgeon during their employment with the Trust and will review the quality of care received. They will also look to see if any opportunities to have identified the concerns earlier were missed. The hospital has said that they know concerns were raised in 2015 and a review into the surgeon’s work took place in 2016.
It is understood that this means that around 800 cases will therefore now be reviewed including a review of an initial 100 adults and paediatric orthopaedic emergency cases to “determine whether there are any concerns about the emergency treatment provided by this surgeon”. A barrister, Andrew Kennedy KC, has been appointed to chair the panel of expert clinicians to review the cases.
At Redkite Solicitors we are concerned that, yet again, large numbers of patients are receiving unacceptable care from medical staff. Whilst the vast majority of patients receive acceptable care, those that are affected can lose faith in medical professionals, whilst negligent care can have devastating consequences caused as a result.
Madeleine Pinschof, Partner in our clinical negligence team, has experience in representing large numbers of clients who have had claims against the same surgeon/hospital Trust. Madeleine states that this further review into around 800 patients is likely to cause anxiety to those patients affected and if unacceptable care is found, will have questions as to why this surgeon was able to continue to practice and concern about whether they have been harmed as a consequence.
This article was written by Redkite Solicitors, Madeleine Pinschof. To find out more about Madeleine and the support that she can provide to you, visit her website profile here: https://www.redkitesolicitors.co.uk/team/madeleine-pinschof/
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.