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Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Great Ormond Street surgeon ‘left teenager in constant pain'
A teenager operated on by a Great Ormond Street Hospital surgeon has said he is living in 'constant pain'. Finias Sandu, 15, who was born with a condition that causes curved bones in the legs, underwent a reconstructive operation when he was seven to lengthen his left leg by 3.5cm. A few years later, he had the same procedure, which involved him wearing a heavy metal frame for months, on his right leg. Yaser Jabbar, who carried out the operation and who no longer works at the children's hospital, is now at the centre of an investigation reviewing the care given to more than 700 of his patients, which allegedly left some suffering 'severe harm'. Finias has now been told by independent reviewers that the procedures on his legs were 'unacceptable' and 'inappropriate' for his age, Sky News reported. Concerns have also been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations. Pain 'is a companion to me' Hudgell Solicitors, who represent the Sandu family, said the experts had concluded he suffered 'moderate harm' as a result of the treatment he had received. 'The pain is there every day, every day I'm continuously in pain,' the teenager told Sky News. 'It's not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it's always there. It just doesn't leave, it's a companion to me, just always there.' Mr Jabbar, who worked at the London hospital between 2017 and 2022, is reported to be an expert in limb reconstruction, but has not had a licence to practise medicine in the UK since January, according to the General Medical Council's website. The Royal College of Surgeons carried out a review of Great Ormond Street's paediatric orthopaedic service after concerns were raised by patients' families and staff. As part of its review, the RCS raised concerns about a former surgeon and other practices within the service. Great Ormond Street has asked a group of independent paediatric orthopaedic consultants from other UK hospitals to carry out a review of the care of patients treated by Mr Jabbar. Some, including Finias, have required corrective surgery. By the end of last month 416 patients had been reviewed, a Great Ormond Street spokesman said. 'Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it's just too much to comprehend for me,' Finias said. 'We just went by what the doctor said' 'It wasn't something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don't really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.' Finias and his family moved to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in 2021. He is receiving therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year. A spokesman for Great Ormond Street Hospital said: 'We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted. 'We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. 'We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.'
Sky News
18-04-2025
- Sky News
UK's system for verifying drivers' eyesight 'unsafe', coroner rules after four people killed
The UK's system for ensuring drivers have good eyesight is "unsafe", a coroner has said. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, made the remark at the inquests of four people killed by motorists whose vision was failing. He said Britain's licensing system was the "laxest in Europe" - and one of only three to allow eyesight conditions to be self-reported. He also said it was concerning that the UK was the only European country to issue licences without any checks up to the age of 70. Dr Adeley presided over the inquests in Preston of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75. Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds, who were friends, were struck by Glyn Jones, 68, in his Audi A3 as they crossed the road in Southport, Merseyside, in November 2021. Jones was told by both his optician and GP on several occasions that his eyesight was well below the standard required for driving a vehicle after he was diagnosed with a severe eye condition. But he ignored the warnings and did not inform the DVLA or insurers. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in jail in January last year. Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the road in Langho, near Blackburn, on 17 March 2022. Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van driven by Vernon Law, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on 11 July 2023. Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car. "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of [the four victims] where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." He added: "Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive. "Drivers may also admit they drive but then ignore instructions not to drive and fail to notify the DVLA." Failure to tell the licensing agency of a new or worsening eyesight condition from the age of 70 is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 but the coroner pointed out: "However, as the DVLA have never referred a case to the police where a condition was not disclosed for consideration for a prosecution, this appears to be a sanction without teeth." Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, representing the families of Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and Mr Westwell, said: "People ignore what they are told when it doesn't suit their lifestyle, and in reality there is nothing in place to stop selfish people putting others at risk by getting back behind the wheel. "Best estimates are that around 2% of drivers would fail the driving eyesight test - which would equate to around 750,000 drivers and 4,250 journeys every day on the M25. "It is quite frankly frightening. "Essentially, the only proof of suitable eyesight drivers have to provide is on the day of their driving test, when a number plate has to be read from 20 metres away. "If you pass your test at 17, you are not asked to provide real evidence or proof of your eyesight ability ever again." The Department for Transport said it would consider the coroner's report once received.
