Medical Negligence Lawyers Supporting Affected Patients Calls On Cambridge Hospital Trust To Be Transparent With Families

The surgeon at the centre of an external review into the care of 800 patients at a leading hospital has been named in the media as Kuldeep Stohr.  

The Sunday Times yesterday named Ms Stohr as the surgeon who has been suspended while the inquiry examining operations, including hip procedures on children, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, near Cambridge, takes place. She has since been named by other media outlets. 

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s, announced earlier this year that a review had been launched. It found that nine children operated on by a then unnamed surgeon received care that fell “below expected standards”. It added that the care some children received had “impacted on their quality of life.”   

Last month the Trust revealed that the review had been extended to examine 800 patients – both children and adults. 

Lawyers supporting patients operated on by Kuldeep Stohr at Addenbrooke's Hospital

Specialist medical negligence group action lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are supporting a number of parents with concerns about orthopaedic operations performed by Ms Stohr. 

They have been contacted by families who form part of the initial nine patients under review as well as those whose care falls outside the original investigation. 

A separate investigation is also being conducted into whether concerns about Ms Stohr should have been spotted earlier.

The hospital confirmed it knew concerns were raised as early as 2015, and that a review into the surgeon's work was carried out in 2016.

Legal expert calls for transparency over Dr Stohr review and urges people to seek advice 

Catherine Slattery is an expert medical negligence group action lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who is supporting affected families and patients.

Expert Opinion

“The findings of the initial external review published in February were extremely disturbing. Since then, not only have we been contacted by some of the families but we’ve also heard heartbreaking stories from others outside the scope of that review about their child’s treatment.

“The first-hand accounts we’ve been told indicate a much wider issue regarding the care provided by that surgeon, and potentially over a longer period. That 800 cases are now being looked at is truly staggering.

“No doubt many other parents and patients will have questions and concerns regarding their care.

“It’s now vital that patients and their families are supported so they can be provided with the answers they deserve, but where appropriate, access to any follow up treatment and rehabilitation they may require. The impact of substandard care should never be downplayed. It can have devastating and have life-long consequences.

“The Hospital Trust needs to be open with families to ensure all care and governance issues which could improve patient safety are identified. One of the most worrying things connected to this review is whether the recommendations of the 2016 report were actually implemented.

“Given the level of detail the Trust has released, there’s currently an understandable fear that the 2016 recommendations may not have been implemented and patients suffered avoidable harm as a result of actions recommended nearly a decade ago not being put into practice. Transparency is key to helping maintain public confidence in the Trust and the care it provides.” Catherine Slattery

Addenbrooke's Hospital surgery review background

As part of last month’s announcement Cambridge University Hospitals Trust said the updated review would look into treatment provided to 700 patients who underwent planned operations. The review would also scrutinise 100 adult and child patients who underwent emergency surgery. 

The Sunday Times reported how Ms Stohr, who was suspended in January, was a specialist paediatric orthopaedic consultant. 

Many of the cases are reported to involve osteotomies — a procedure where a bone is cut to reshape or realign bones such as those in the legs. Some families fear the operations were not performed correctly, with some children having to have multiple operations over several years. There are concerns about poor post-surgery follow-up and alleged delays in complications being recognised and treated.

This includes one child who allegedly had dislocated hips for up to two years. Some are likely to need more surgery, the Sunday Times reported.

Ms Stohr said she strove “to provide the highest standards of care to all my patients.” She said she was “co-operating fully” with the investigation. 

Barrister Andrew Kennedy KC will oversee the review of 800 patients. 

The Trust has apologised to patients and families.

Find out more about how Irwin Mitchell is supporting families and patients with concerns about operations performed by Ms Stohr at our dedicated Dr Kuldeep Stohr claims section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0808 271 3061.