Medical Negligence Solicitors to Investigate Unnecessary Surgeries
Simpson Millar have today called for an ‘urgent, independent and joined up review’ to take place to investigate the number of patients affected by unnecessary or inappropriate shoulder procedures at private hospitals across the country.
The call to action comes as the firm reveals a growing list of clients who have been recalled for a review of their treatment whilst in the care of once trusted orthopaedic surgeons including Habib Rahman who operated at the Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, and Michael Walsh who operated at Spire Leeds.
Although both surgeons have now ceased to work for Spire Healthcare – with Habib suspended in May 2019, and Walsh understood to have retired – Simpson Millar says Spire’s ‘piecemeal approach’ to the broader issue is not providing the answers, or the reassurance needed for those affected.
We're rated‘Excellent’Earlier this month the firm was instructed to act for Kalsum Khan, 47, from Hall Green, who is one of more than 200 patients that received a letter from Spire asking them to attend a review to investigate the treatment received from surgeon Habib Rahman.
Simpson Millar’s Medical Negligence Solicitors have also been instructed by clients to carry out investigations into the care received from Michael Walsh at Spire Leeds Hospital, amidst allegations that he carried out unnecessary surgery that has had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of his patients.
Jodie Cook, a Senior Associate Medical Negligence Lawyer who is representing clients treated by Mr Walsh in Leeds said, “This isn’t a situation affecting one or two patients, there are hundreds of potential victims across multiple sites.
“Patients who have been referred by the NHS for specialist treatment and are being recalled amidst mounting evidence that surgery was conducted unnecessarily, or very badly which has had a devastating impact on their lives. That in itself is deeply concerning.
“More worryingly, however, is the fact that Spire and other private healthcare providers are seemingly dealing with the matter in a piecemeal manner which means no one is holding the group – or the private healthcare industry as a whole – accountable. How many other victims are there that simply don’t know that they have been affected?
"It is time for an urgent, independent and, dare we say it, joined up review to take place to uncover the full extent of any clinical negligence from those who have already been identified, and any others."
Jodie Cook
Senior Associate Medical Negligence Lawyer
“Any patients affected are urged to go for a review and to seek independent legal advice as to whether any potential negligence could lead to a civil claim for loss of earnings, or unnecessary pain or suffering.”
Spire Healthcare was also named amidst another similar scandal in recent years, when breast surgeon Ian Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after it was found that he had exaggerated or invented cancer risks which resulted in more expensive treatments and procedures being carried out.
Jodie Cook added, “It’s very concerning that so soon after the scandal of Ian Paterson the same private hospital has other surgeons who appear to have been carrying out unnecessary or substandard surgeries, potentially causing significant and unnecessary harm to hundreds of patients.”
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