This site is intended for UK healthcare professionals
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
News

Royal Derby gynaecology consultant 'harmed eight women'

A review of treatment by an individual hospital consultant identified eight cases where women were unnecessarily harmed.

All of the patients had undergone outpatient and surgical treatment atUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Trust.

It said an initial 58 cases had been independently reviewed.

Concerns Raised by Colleagues

The review was set up following concerns expressed by members of the obstetrics and gynaecology team regarding the practice of their consultant colleague.

The alarm was raised in late 2018.

The consultant identified has not undertaken any clinical work since June of that year, the Trust said.

The Trust has now asked NHS England to establish an independent clinical review of the wider work of the consultant which will begin after the COVID-19 pandemic.

To complete the review, the Trust has contacted 136 women who received major obstetric or gynaecological interventions by the consultant over a 3 year period, asking them to take part.

'Sincere Apologies'

Dr Magnus Harrison, UHDB executive medical director, said: "I would like to express my sincere regret and apologies to any patients who may have received a standard of care that is below that expected. The Trust took immediate action as soon as serious concerns about specific aspects of this consultant's practice were brought to our attention.

"These concerns were raised by the obstetrics and gynaecology team themselves in a clear demonstration of their commitment to the highest quality of patient care and their duty to work in an open and transparent way. 

"We will be working closely with NHS England to establish the full facts and will provide all the necessary support they need during their review."

The review was necessarily complex and would determine whether patients had been managed appropriately and whether any harm had been caused by any deficiencies in their care. 

Patients contacted have been told that their patient records will be confidentially shared as part of the NHS England review.

The anonymised findings will be published on the Trust's website.

Adapted from Medscape UK.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE