Investigation into disgraced surgeon widened

Initially, the work of consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar was being probed during his period at world-famous children’s hospital Great Ormond Street, where he practiced from 2017 until he left in September last year.

However, the investigation is now being widened to include his work at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, an NHS hospital, and three private hospitals – Portland Hospital, St John and St Elizabeth Hospital, and Cromwell Hospital.

It is understood there are 721 patients currently included in the investigation, with Great Ormond Street confirming that 22 children in 39 cases looked at so far had come to some degree of harm.

Of those, 13 were classified as suffering “severe harm” with potentially life-long consequences. Many will need years of ongoing treatment.

Cases covered by the investigation are understood to include a wide range of injuries and life-changing outcomes as a result of their limb operations, including amputations and nerve and muscle damage.

A leaked extract from a report by the Royal College of Surgeons into Dr Jabbar’s work at Great Ormond Street has concluded that children underwent “incorrect” and “unsuitable” orthopaedic surgery.

It also highlights a number of issues in the complex lower limb reconstruction unit at Great Ormond Street, including “serious concerns in relation with the working culture”, staff describing a “toxic” environment, and a “lack of direction and effective management and leadership”.

“The scale of this investigation is already truly shocking, and the fact it has now been widened further could establish that even more young lives have been impacted by poor standards of care, and in some instances, life-changing injury,” says Emma Doughty, head of clinical negligence.

“It is vital that every patient who has been adversely impacted by Mr Jabbar’s surgery and decision making is found, and that anyone with concerns over the treatment they received from him – or from the wider orthopaedic department - at any of these five hospitals comes forward.

“Hopefully the fact that families know they are not on their own will enable them to feel they can come forward if they have not done so previously.”

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