Families call for public inquiry into Cambridge surgeon cases
A report found hospital bosses missed chances to act on concerns raised
Legal experts are calling for a public inquiry into how concerns around a Cambridge surgeon's care for patients were overlooked.
An investigation has found bosses at Addenbrooke's Hospital where paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Kuldeep Stohr worked missed 32 opportunities to take action amid warnings over her work.
Complaints against Ms Stohr include allegations of botched hip surgeries and knee reconstructions.
Elizabeth Maliakal, from Hudgell Solicitors, said some of the families they represent are in "actual disbelief and shock.
"What they're telling us is had they known about the difficulties with this surgeon, they would never have agreed to their children or themselves being operated on by this surgeon."
Concerns about Ms Stohr were first raised a decade ago, according to a new review which was commissioned by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH).
In the report, experts highlighted how "actions could have been taken to reduce harm to patients", but instead "deficiencies in Ms Stohr's practice persisted for years".
Ms Stohr - who's been suspended - has not practised since she began a leave of absence in March 2024.
Speaking to us, Roland Sinker - chief executive at CUH - could not confirm if Ms Stohr has permanently left the Trust.
"I'm so sorry for the impact this incident has had on our patients and families; we've let people down (and) this should not have happened," Mr Sinker said.
"I think the major piece for us now is how we work with our patients to continue to support them, how we complete the clinical look-back and how we take the action plan forward."
Since the report was published, at least one affected family have called for a public inquiry.
Lynn Harrison, whose daughter Tammy, 13, was operated on by Ms Stohr in April 2021, said: "I want a meeting with Wes Streeting urgently and I want him to order a fully independent inquiry into this scandal and why my daughter and all the other victims were tortured this way."
CUH have set out an action plan in response to the incidents, including:
- Management and support for doctors​
- Improving governance for the safety and effectiveness of clinical services​
- Effective oversight of clinical reviews ​
- Medical culture and tackling poor behaviours​
"The families are not going to be reassured by more policies," Ms Maliakal said.
"(A public inquiry) would allow the families to hear from the people who were managing the Trust back in 2015 and to hear answers and be reassured as to why this would happen to any other family.
"Nothing can change what happened here, but a civil claim and an inquiry would go a long way towards that."