Latest news with #YaserJabbar
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Great Ormond Street Hospital criticised by NHS watchdog for using doctors' assistants to fill surgical rota
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has been criticised by the NHS watchdog for using doctors' assistants to fill its surgical rota. GOSH, one of the world's leading children's hospitals, had resorted to using physician associates (PA), now called doctors' assistants, to fill gaps for registrars due to short staffing, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found during an inspection in October 2024. In addition to concerns over the use of PAs to cover during times of short staffing, the CQC found that the trust also had a shortage of nurses trained to carry out tracheostomies, leaving only one trained nurse available to work during some shifts. Widespread controversy over the use of physician associates by the NHS was subject to a national review earlier this year, following the death of Emily Chesterton in 2022. She died from a pulmonary embolism after being misdiagnosed twice by a physician associate, who she believed to be a doctor, at her GP surgery in north London. Following the Leng review into the use of PAs, the government accepted the recommendations, which included that PAs should be renamed and only see patients in limited circumstances. The CQC's inspection of GOSH, the results of which were published last month, was triggered by concerns over the care of hundreds of children by orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar, who was accused of carrying out botched surgeries. Last year, GOSH launched a review of the care of 723 children treated by Mr Jabbar, following concerns raised by parents and the Royal College of Surgeons. Of the cases reviewed so far, 22 children were found to have come to harm, including amputations which might have been avoided and injuries that left them with lifelong pain. The CQC's inspection report does not make statements about the surgeon's case; however, its inspection of the department cited concerns over 'governance' and 'surgical accountability and oversight' at the trust. The report said: 'A key area of risk identified was the safe staffing levels within surgical services. Reports indicated that physician associates (PAs) were being used to fill registrar rota gaps. 'When this took place, they reported directly to a named consultant and could seek additional clinical support from senior registrars or fellows as required. Additionally, there were concerns regarding the availability of tracheostomy-trained nurses, with incidents where only one trained nurse was present during shifts, limiting safe break coverage.' In response to concerns around staffing, the trust began a recruitment drive, with new nurses in training and temporary staff cover arranged where required. However, at the time of the assessment, gaps remained in some key areas, particularly within ear nose and throat and urology services. In response to the CQC's concerns around staffing, a spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital said patient safety was its top priority. It said: 'Physician associates are a valued part of our multidisciplinary team – they are assigned daytime shifts within a specific physician associate roster and are always supported by at least one consultant. In the event of sickness, the entire team adapts to provide the necessary cover to ensure we provide the best possible patient care. 'This is always with appropriate supervision and in line with Trust policy.' The news comes as the government faces ongoing strikes from resident doctors across England over pay and a lack of specialist training posts for doctors, following a five-day walkout last month that saw thousands of staff take action. The British Medical Association, which represents resident doctors, has previously used pay comparisons between PAs and resident doctors as part of its argument on why pay for its members should be raised. Last week, the BMA also warned that thousands of resident doctors, formerly called junior doctors, would not get specialist training jobs once they finish their initial two years training, with around 30,000 doctors competing for 10,000 posts.
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Surgeons forced to finish operation using torches on their mobile phones amid power cut at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, damning report reveals
A power cut at Great Ormond Street children's hospital forced surgeons to finish an operation using the torches on their mobile phones. The central London hospital, which treats 76,000 kids a year, has been blighted by power outages, water leaks, and issues with air filtration systems. Recurring problems have led to delayed and cancelled operations, impacting patient safety and stopping patients from receiving timely care. At one point last year, six of the hospital's 15 operating theatres were out of action for maintenance. In the most serious incident, in late 2023, power failed midway through complex spinal surgery. The incident is detailed in a report by the care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which sent inspectors into the surgery department in March this year. Its visit was prompted by concerns over the care provided to hundreds of children by Yaser Jabbar, an orthopaedic surgeon, the Sunday Times reported. A number of children suffered unnecessary pain and failed surgeries, including some amputations, while under his care. The review of his cases is due to be completed later this year. Staff told inspectors that there were repeated problems with the maintenance of operating theatres. In its report, the CQC said: 'A recent power outage during a spinal surgery procedure required staff to use mobile phone torches to complete wound closure.' Great Ormond Street Hospital said the surgical lights immediately over the patient remained on during the power cut - but theatre staff moving around the operating theatre had to use their torches to avoid cables and find equipment needed during the procedure. A spokeswoman blamed an electrical design fault for the power failure, adding that an external review had been commissioned and work was under way to fix the problems. She said: 'A decision was taken to stop the surgery to ensure the safety of the patient. The surgery was carried out at a later date and the patient is doing well. 'As with many hospitals across the country, we have some parts of our hospital that are older and in need of upgrades to provide the best environment for patients and our staff. Improving these areas is part of our long-term plan for the hospital, and in the meantime our staff work hard to mitigate any issues that do arise.' In its annual accounts, the hospital said it has been forced to pay a company for extra power to be supplied to the main hospital site. The CQC also flagged concerns over staffing levels in its inspection report, saying: 'Some surgical areas at the hospital faced challenges with staffing levels, especially in key clinical roles such as nurses and operating theatre staff.' Overall it rated the leadership of the trust and surgery services as good but warned there is still work to do to reduce the risk of further scandals. Nationally, NHS England data shows there is a £14 billion backlog in maintenance spending that is impacting on patient care. In some cases hospitals are spending millions to maintain empty buildings that are no longer deemed safe for patients to be treated. Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, said: 'For years, investment in NHS buildings and equipment has been a neglected priority. 'Now we're paying the price with a ballooning repairs bill, bigger than the NHS's annual capital budget. 'Patching up is a recipe for poor patient care, low staff morale and falling productivity.'
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surgery staff at Great Ormond Street forced to work using phone torches during power cut
Surgical staff at Great Ormond Street children's hospital were forced to use their phones as torches during an operation, a report has found. The hospital, which treats 76,000 children a year, has been forced to tackle several power cuts as well as suffered serious infrastructure problems, such as water leaks that damaged electrical systems and air filtration problems in recent years. The ongoing issues have led to delayed and cancelled operations that have affected patient safety and stopped children from receiving care in a timely manner, The Sunday Times reports. At one stage last year, six out of 15 of the hospital's operating theatres were closed for maintenance. In the worst incident, in late 2023, power failed halfway through a complex spinal cord surgery. The incident was released to the public in a report carried out by the care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which sent inspectors into the surgery department in March following concerns about children receiving treatment from Yaser Jabbar, an orthopaedic surgeon. Several children suffered unnecessary pain and failed surgeries, including some amputations, while under his care. His cases are under review, which will be completed later this year. Staff informed inspectors that there had been repeated issues with maintenance in operating theatres. The CQC report said: 'A recent power outage during a spinal surgery procedure required staff to use mobile phone torches to complete wound closure.' Great Ormond Street Hospital maintains that the surgical lights immediately over the patient remained on during the power cut, but that surgical staff moving around the operating table had to use phone torches to avoid cables and find equipment. A spokesperson attributed blame to a design fault in the electrical system for the power failure, adding that an external review had been commissioned and progress to fix the issues was underway. She said: 'A decision was taken to stop the surgery to ensure the safety of the patient. The surgery was carried out at a later date, and the patient is doing well. 'As with many hospitals across the country, we have some parts of our hospital that are older and in need of upgrades to provide the best environment for patients and our staff. Improving these areas is part of our long-term plan for the hospital, and in the meantime, our staff work hard to mitigate any issues that do arise.' In its yearly review, the hospital said it had been forced to pay a company for extra power to be supplied to the primary hospital site. NHS England data shows there is a backlog of £14 billion in maintenance spending affecting patient care, leading to delays and millions being spent to preserve crumbling buildings. Earlier this year, St Helier Hospital in Sutton closed its blood department and cancelled urgent tests when a flood caused a ceiling to partially collapse. A spokesman for St Helier said at the time: 'Our ageing hospitals are deteriorating faster than we can fix them — with issues such as floods, leaking roofs, and broken-down lifts, as well as buildings that have had to be demolished because the foundations are sinking.' A major incident was also declared in January at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, when equipment fell from the ceiling onto an intensive care patient – forcing specialist fire officers to be called. A similar incident occurred the previous March, when part of a ceiling fell onto a patient in the same unit. The CQC has also flagged concerns over staffing levels in its wider inspection report on Great Ormond Street Hospital. It said: 'Some surgical areas at the hospital faced challenges with staffing levels, especially in key clinical roles such as nurses and operating theatre staff.' Overall, the CQC rated the leadership of the trust and surgery services as good, but reiterated that progress would still need to be made to prevent scandals such as that which involved Jabbar from happening again.
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
18-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Teenager living in 'continuous pain' after Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out 'inappropriate' operations
A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon says he is living with "continuous" pain. Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on his legs were "unacceptable" and "inappropriate" for his age. The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs. Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias's left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm. A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months. He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging taken prior to the operations. His doctor at London's prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated. Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures. The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias "harm" and left him in constant pain. "Every day I'm continuously in pain," he 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." Care of over 700 patients being assessed Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022. The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias. "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," he 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." Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021. The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries. Dozens of families seeking legal claims His mother Cornelia Sandu is "furious" and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims. Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: "In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it." Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year. A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: "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 has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar. The Royal College of Surgeons review into the orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022. It found the hospital's lower limb reconstruction service was not "safe for patients or adequate to meet demand".
