This newspaper headline[1] sums up an awful situation for a large number of families.
The hospital has now commissioned a review of Mr Yaser Jabbar’s patients and this article[2] notes that:
- Specialist orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar worked at the specialist Children’s Hospital in central London from June 2017 to September 2023 and left scores of young people needing further corrective surgery.
- Jabbar’s speciality focused on complex limb-lengthening procedures for children with conditions affecting their bones and joints.
- The operations typically involved breaking the bone and inserting metal rings known as Ilizarov frames, along with tension wires to secure the leg. The devices would slowly widen the break bit by bit over several months, allowing new bone to develop and fill the gap.
- A review of 789 of Jabbar’s patients was carried out by independent experts commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2024, which found between 85 and 100 children were harmed.
- Of these, 32 suffered severe harm including potential lifelong deformities and extreme pain. A further 36 children underwent moderate harm, and 18 cases were described as less severe.
- A hospital source criticised the “culture problems” at the trust which allowed Jabbar to practice for so long before he was challenged.
- Mr Jabbar had previously worked at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and at the private St John and St Elizabeth Hospital, BUPA Cromwell Hospital and the Portland Hospital. He has since left the UK to work abroad.
It is predictable that some of the children who have suffered complications will be entitled to compensation, although it may take some time before a full assessment of the consequences of any negligently performed surgery can be carried out.
Not all problems are the result of clinical or medical negligence. However, some are and so if you feel that you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of medical negligence then please contact us if you wish to discuss your potential claim for compensation.
Our expert Medical Negligence team consists of dedicated specialists with many years of experience in bringing successful claims for medical negligence for those who have suffered negligently caused injuries.
We provide an initial free, defined, no obligation, review of your circumstances to see whether there may be grounds for a claim.
Dr Darren Conway PhD[3] is a Solicitor in our Medical Negligence department[4] here at Ward & Rider, specialising in helping those who have suffered an avoidable injury in a medical setting.
If you want to find out more and see how Ward & Rider could help you, click HERE[5]
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For more information regarding the NHS complaints process, please click HERE[6].
This article does not constitute legal advice and you should contact us directly if you are facing a similar situation.
[1] Great Ormond Street surgeon ‘harmed up to 100 children’ in operations
[2] Great Ormond Street surgeon ‘harmed up to 100 children’ in operations | The Standard
[3] Dr Darren Conway PhD | Medical Negligence Lawyer at Ward & Rider
[4] Medical Negligence Lawyers and Solicitors | Ward & Rider Solicitors
[5] Contact Ward & Rider Solicitors
[6] NHS England » Feedback and complaints about NHS services
