A leading children’s hospital in the UK has issued an apology following a report revealing that approximately 94 children were harmed by a negligent orthopaedic surgeon. Great Ormond Street Hospital expressed deep regret after an investigation into the actions of surgeon Yaser Jabbar was made public. Jabbar treated hundreds of children between 2017 and 2022, with 36 children experiencing severe harm under his care. Independent experts, in the recent review, highlighted significant deficiencies in his surgical practices.

The review disclosed that while most children were unharmed by the surgeon, 98 patients (12.4%) suffered some form of harm. Additionally, 39 patients experienced moderate harm, and 19 patients faced mild harm. The range of harm varied from minor issues like unnecessary general anaesthesia to severe consequences such as delayed diagnosis of complications or unsuccessful surgeries.

Specializing in lower limb reconstruction, Jabbar primarily operated on 91 affected children. The report identified various critical issues, including inadequate pre-surgery planning, instability during procedures, incomplete medical records, and incorrect placement of implants. Other concerns involved errors in bone incisions, discrepancies between surgical decisions and scans, improper use of frames and pins, and lack of collaboration in handling infections.

Jabbar is currently residing abroad and no longer holds a medical license to practice in the UK. Matthew Shaw, the CEO of Great Ormond Street Hospital, expressed deep remorse to the affected patients and their families. Shaw emphasized the hospital’s commitment to enhancing patient safety through significant changes in the orthopaedic department and hospital-wide protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Despite the belated response, the hospital aims to create a better and safer environment for all present and future patients.