
Bristol doctor Tony Dixon falsified mesh notes, medical hearing finds
A spokesperson for Mr Dixon added: "Mr Dixon has disputed the allegations throughout the tribunal hearing and is disappointed by the factual determination."Mr Dixon has always endeavoured to provide the highest standard of care to his patients."
Mrs Smith, 71, has received a settlement from Mr Dixon after paying privately to have a fisher operation but she claims she ended up having three meshes implanted without her consent which left her in severe pain and suffering from breakdowns. She told the BBC that her own experience meant she was not surprised the tribunal had found dishonesty, adding: "It's just he is saying one thing and writing something else and you just feel a bit strange about it all, that it's corrupt and lying."It makes people feel, me as well, disappointed, disillusioned."Two investigations at Southmead Hospital and Spire Bristol have previously found Mr Dixon caused harm to hundreds of people by carrying out operations that were not necessary.Spire has since said private hospitals now can access patient notes without having to rely on copies from consultants.
The tribunal had examined claims medical records for seven patients contained false information and were not created at the correct time.It found that as part of a Spire review, Mr Dixon disclosed medical records for several patients that were created after his involvement in their care. It found his actions would have given the false impression that the Spire records were contemporaneous.It also found patient records disclosed to the solicitors of four patients who were suing him contained false information.Mr Dixon was also found to have failed to adequately explain the complications of a re-look laparotomy in 2017.A final decision over what sanctions will be taken against Mr Dixon is expected this summer.
Dr Dixon had previously built up an international reputation as the go-to expert for patients with prolapsed bowels.He used a technique known as mesh rectopexy to treat bowel problems.Through the procedure, mesh implants are placed into the body to treat pelvic organ prolapse which can occur after childbirth.The mesh, which is usually made from synthetic polypropylene, is intended to repair damaged or weakened tissue.At the point of his suspension in 2024, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) said Dr Dixon's "misconduct was so serious that action needed be taken to protect members of the public".But, the tribunal considered that a longer period of suspension would be unduly punitive, especially taking into account the period that Dr Dixon had already been the subject of fitness to practise proceedings.Both Southmead Hospital and Spire Bristol apologised to victims after his suspension.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Libya Herald
an hour ago
- Libya Herald
Seven open heart surgeries at Zliten Medical Centre conducted in collaboration with American Global Cardiac Alliance
Seven open heart surgeries for children and two cardiac catheterization operations were performed at Zlitan Medical Centre, the Tripoli government reported yesterday. The operations were conducted in collaboration with the Global Cardiac Alliance (formerly the Novick Cardiac Alliance led by William Novick) and comes within the framework of Libya's National Paediatric Heart Surgery Programme, and in preparation for the more complex Fontaine operations. The Tripoli government said the operations come within its wider plan to localise treatment. . Visiting specialists from American Novick NGO conducting heart surgeries on children at Zliten Medical Centre Workshop on paediatric and neonatal heart surgeries launched by American Novick Cardiac Alliance at Benghazi Medical Centre Letter to the Editor: Failure to pass budget is killing Libyan children with heart conditions – with 2,000 still on waiting list ( American surgeon urges Hafter and Serraj to find peaceful solution so that Libyan children have a future | ( Letter to the Editor: Libya's fighting is leading to loss of life of its children with heart conditions | ( UK-based medical NGO to carry out 60 children heart operations in Tripoli | ( U.S. NGO returns to perform more free children's heart operations in Tobruk, but Tripoli fails to pay basic costs | ( WHO to fund next kids' heart surgery visit by US volunteer team | ( US heart surgeon says GNA does not care about Libyan children | ( Letter to the editor: Libyan children's lives should not be subjected to political infighting | ( Eastern Libya Health Ministry co-sponsors Healthcare Funding Forum in Tunis | ( US heart surgeons back in Libya treating kids | ( American children's cardiac team again in Tobruk | ( United States NGO carries out free children heart operations in eastern Libya | ( Tags: Zliten Medical Centre


ITV News
8 hours ago
- ITV News
Concerns about above-average death rates at Leeds children's heart surgery service
A children's heart surgery service is in a 'precarious' state amid concerns about above-average death rates, a report has found. Hospital bosses have been told urgent action is needed to address a staffing crisis in the Leeds congenital cardiac service. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust ordered an external review after concerns were first raised by medics in November 2023. A report to the trust's next board meeting said paediatric mortality rates were within the expected range between 2021-2023. But outcomes after April 2023 showed 'a worrying and significant deterioration, with risk-adjusted mortality rate running around three times the national average". 'During the same period, the rate of significant complications has increased, including need for re-operations and very protracted length of stay,' the report said. One surgeon was due to retire and another had decided not to return from a sabbatical, it said. There were 'personality clashes' among staff in the unit at Leeds General Infirmary. The report said: 'Some staff stated that they no longer escalated concerns about poor behaviour as there was sense that nothing would be done. 'Other staff cited examples of excellent team working and professionalism.' The report praised the service for dealing with rising numbers of complex cases. It said: 'However, some recent poor patient outcomes and the imminent retirement of its senior surgeon now places the entire programme in a very precarious state.' It warned of national consequences and direct impacts on services in Liverpool and Newcastle. The report said: 'We believe Leeds has too large a paediatric cardiac surgical programme for it to be allowed to fail.' Trust bosses said a new surgeon would join the team in January and more specialist nurses were being trained. Chief medical officer Magnus Harrison said: 'We have a robust action plan in place to deliver the rest of the recommendations, which we are committed to delivering.' A separate review was carried out into the care of seven children operated on by the same surgeon, including two who died. The unnamed surgeon, who was placed on restricted duties, was found to have performed well in three of the complex cases but there were concerns over a further four. An eighth case was still being reviewed by Andrew Parry, a Bristol-based paediatric cardiac surgeon. Dr Harrison said the trust had offered to meet the children's families. He said: 'I would like to thank the parents of those seven children whose care we reviewed and extend my sincere condolences to the families of the two children who sadly died. 'I am deeply sorry that in four children's cases, the findings indicate that there were elements of care that could have been improved. 'I apologise that we did not meet the highest standard of care that we strive for. 'The reviewer did not conclude in his report that the issues identified had an impact on the overall outcome for each child.'


Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Richard Bacon reveals he's now reliant on heartburn tablets and vitamin injections to cope with the fallout from his heavy drinking - and quit AA because it's 'boring'
Richard Bacon has opened up about his long-running struggle with alcohol addiction - admitting he's sleep-deprived and reliant on heartburn tablets and vitamin injections to cope with the fallout from heavy drinking. Richard was famously just 18 months into his dream job at Blue Peter when he was fired at the age of 22 after admitting he took cocaine in a London nightclub in 1997. He has since been open about his continuing addiction struggles, recently opening up in a candid podcast chat. The presenter, now 49, said that he struggles to take accountability after a doctor told him his addiction is a disease inherited from his alcoholic mother. 'I went to see an alcohol doctor not long ago,' he said in the chat. 'I'm not out of control or anything, but I do think I should drink less. It affects your sleep and I get bored of being tired. 'I don't get enough sleep because I drink too much. I enjoy drinking.' Speaking on The Perfect Day podcast with Jessica Knappett, he added: 'You know you drink too much when you have a lot of Rennie. You know you're middle aged and you drink too much and you're popping those things.' The father-of-two also confessed to a regular habit of having vitamin B12 injections to cope with the after-effects of drinking too much. 'A vitamin B12 injection in your bum is famously good for hangovers. It brings you back to life,' he said. 'At the end of last year and for the first few months of this year, I had one a week. I've got this doctor - he's a bit like Michael Jackson's doctor - he just gives me anything I ask for.' 'At one point I had eight prescriptions and there wasn't really much wrong with me. He's just like, 'you're a bit deficient in this, bit deficient in that. Bit of this, bit of that.' A lot of it's sort of vitamin based, but weirdly prescription based. But it did work… He's terrific.' Richard was sacked from children's TV programme Blue Peter in 1998 after admitting to taking cocaine. To this day he is the only presenter in the history of the show to have been sacked. 'I got a Blue Peter job at 21 and then lost it at 22 and it was a big scandal at the time,' Richard reflected. 'I suppose there's something about getting caught for taking drugs where you can just come back, can't you? It's not one of the worst ones. 'There are far worse ones that make you look like a malicious person. If you beat someone up, do something aggressively sexual, say something racist... those reveal something about you that people don't like. I think the desire to get drunk and get high is something people generally can get over.' Now a successful creator of TV formats and the man behind shows like This Is My House and I Literally Just Told You, Richard admits his lifestyle can still get in the way. 'What I find annoying about myself is if I have a night of not drinking, I'll go into the office - I work on ideas... and I'll just have so much energy, and I'll be better at it.' Despite still drinking regularly, he added he ditched Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) because he found the meetings 'boring'. 'I've gone through loads of periods of stopping, and I've done periods of AA. I admire AA. It's a strange combination of people telling the most dramatic stories you've ever heard that I find really boring. I'm not even joking.' He recalled one meeting in Chelsea with several famous faces in the room. 'This guy was telling this story - he'd come out of prison and he'd gone to prison because he'd got high and he'd stolen a car and he was chased by a police helicopter then he drove through a police barricade. And I remember just sitting there checking my watch going, 'boring!' 'Imagine someone you know telling you that story? But somehow it's just one dramatic story after another, and it became a bit numb to it.' Despite this, he praised the 'generosity' of long-term sober members who continue to attend meetings seemingly to help others. 'If I'd been sober for 15 years, I wouldn't still be going to AA, and listening to more stories,' he said. 'I think for some of them, they are fairly certain they won't drink again but they do want to help. So it's a very positive place. It just didn't work for me.' Richard, who said he was diagnosed with 'a particularly strong strain of ADHD' aged 42, recently consulted a specialist about why he drinks so much - and was told he inherited the destructive tendency. 'My mum's basically an alcoholic. My granddad died of alcoholism. He went, 'Well that's why, it's just genetics.' 'I said, some people think it's the result of childhood trauma or something you've been running away from or not dealt with. And he was like, 'Nah, it's just genetics. It's a disease.' 'So now I think I can just say to my wife: it's not my fault! It's grandad's fault. It's mum's fault.' He added: 'I drink and I enjoy it and I don't seem to get in trouble so it's fine. It's not so much that I'm worried about being dangerous. I just the calories and the sleep. That bit is annoying.' To slash calories in his drink, he said, he avoids beer and red wine and sticks to vodka - particularly in the form of a martini with a twist. 'When you go to a bar and order vodka and they go, what sort of vodka do you want? I think they all taste the same! It's so irrelevant.' The former Radio 5 Live and Capital FM host lives in north London with his wife Rebecca McFarlane and their two children, Arthur, 13, and Ivy, 11. He admits parenthood didn't quite sober him up the way people might expect. '[Rebecca] had always wanted to be a mum,' he explained. 'So it was a really wonderful thing, but I think she looks back with disappointment at me at that time because I was still going out and not pulling my weight and coming in late. 'I think those first few years, I didn't snap into what you're kind of required to do quickly enough. So there was too much of a burden on her.' He continued: 'I hadn't wanted to be a parent until I met her, and then we fell in love really intensely. And she would talk about kids a lot, and that made me think, oh, right, OK. 'I recently tried to imagine having another baby... I'm so pleased I'm out of that phase. Rebecca did the real work here, but it is definitely harder than people say. 'No one really says how hard it is. They're constantly relying on me to keep them alive. It's like, f***ing hell. When they're young - two, three, four - they're flat out annoying.'