Exclusive: Compensation payments against Rotherham surgeon top £1m

Last month it was reported that Rotherham Hospital had paid £750,000 for five claims involving operations carried out by orthopaedic surgeon Manjit Bhamra but further inquiries have now revealed the hospital has settled 10 claims with payouts totalling £1,010,250.

In some cases the hospital has admitted negligence and liability, while in others it has made payments but no admission of liability. Individual payments range from £1,750 up to £500,000.

The hospital has also confirmed it has three further outstanding “live” claims, while Irwin Mitchell solicitors – which represented five of the 10 patients who have settled cases – said the firm had been inundated by former patients of Mr Bhamra at Rotherham Hospital since the publicity surrounding the legal action broke in August.

As a result, lawyers are to meet counterparts from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust next week to discuss how to manage what could become one of Yorkshire’s biggest clinical negligence cases.

Solicitor Tim Annett said the bulk of the 85 people contacting Irwin Mitchell had operations at Rotherham between 2005 and 2007, the year Mr Bhamra left.

Since January 2008, Mr Bhamra has been employed as an orthopaedic surgeon at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust where officials have given him a full vote of confidence.

Tim Hendra, Medical Director at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals said: “Delivering safe, high quality care is our top priority and all medical staff that we recruit are subject to a robust recruitment process which complies with NHS guidelines.

“We can reassure our patients that we routinely monitor the practice of all our surgeons, including Mr Bhamra, using a range of measures. As with any healthcare professional working at our Trust, we would take appropriate action if any concerns were raised.

“We have no concerns about Mr Bhamra’s current clinical practice.”

Mr Bhamra did not respond to a request to comment. He retains a full licence to practise and does not face any upcoming proceedings in front of the General Medical Council (GMC)

Rotherham Hospital confirmed it had twice referred Mr Bhamra to the GMC but the GMC declined to comment on the outcome of those referrals.

A Rotherham Hospital spokeswoman said: “The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has a robust procedure in place in which to fully investigate any complaints that are received. If any patient has a concern following treatment we would advise them to contact their GP in the first instance for clinical advice as they best placed to make sure they have access to the appropriate treatment and care.”

Commenting on the number of patients coming forward, Mr Annett said: “We expected a few inquiries after the previous coverage but we were surprised to say the least so many people came forward with concerns about surgery carried out by Mr Bhamra.

“We are in the process of looking at the details those people have provided us to see whether or not they will be pursued and investigated.”

He added that a letter of complaint has been sent to the GMC but no response has yet been received.

The already settled claims and those in the pipeline largely involve hip surgery, and include Wayne Pickering, 59, from Cantley, Doncaster, who underwent hip revision surgery in February 2006.

Mr Pickering’s claim – for which Rotherham Hospital admitted negligence and liability – alleged the surgeon fractured his pelvis and damaged the sciatic nerve. Despite identifying the fracture, it was not repaired leaving Mr Pickering with an unstable hip and seriously impaired mobility. He was unable to return to work and had a repair operation in 2009.