Report finds 'missed opportunities' into Addenbrooke's surgeon

Report finds 'missed opportunities' into Addenbrooke's surgeon

An investigation into a prominent surgeon at a renowned NHS hospital in Cambridge has revealed a multitude of missed opportunities and surgical shortcomings. Kuldeep Stohr, who was suspended earlier this year due to concerns over substandard surgeries, was the subject of the inquiry. The report highlighted a critical missed opportunity when the hospital trust failed to act on recommendations made by an external reviewer in 2016. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) acknowledged the findings and recommendations of the report, noting that a separate external review was ongoing.

According to independent investigators, if appropriate actions had been taken, harm to paediatric orthopaedic patients could have been reduced significantly. Representing 25 affected families, retired lawyer Radd Seiger emphasized that the issue was not solely about a rogue surgeon, but also a rogue system. The investigation, carried out by Verita, an objective investigations company in the UK, focused on approximately 800 patient procedures involving Ms Stohr, including both planned and emergency operations.

Following Ms Stohr’s suspension in March 2024, her absence led to the discovery of a higher number of complications among her patients, prompting an initial review. Concerns regarding her work dated as far back as 2015, with subsequent reviews showing that operations on nine children did not meet expected standards. The latest report pointed out several missed opportunities by CUH and its leadership in addressing concerns about Ms Stohr’s practice, citing deficiencies that persisted for years despite increasing patient complexity.

The report underscored the need for clearer line-management arrangements, mentoring for new consultants, and the establishment of reliable record-keeping systems for future reviews. Additionally, it recommended improved communication of findings and recommendations from external reviews. Steve Hubbard/BBC Darcey faces further surgery after experiencing complications following an operation at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Acknowledging the impact on patients, CUH’s chief executive, Roland Sinker, expressed deep regret and acceptance of the report’s findings and recommendations, pledging to implement necessary changes outlined in the action plan

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