Families label independent reports on former child surgeon’s care as ‘whitewash’

Parents of children who underwent procedures performed by a surgeon facing disciplinary action have characterized independent assessments of their treatment as a “whitewash” and a “final insult”. Yaser Jabbar, previously a surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, performed operations such as leg lengthening and straightening, in addition to treating children with complex medical conditions. However, certain cases associated with his practice led to adverse outcomes, including permanent injuries and amputations. Mr. Jabbar departed from the hospital in 2023 following a report from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) which determined that some of the surgical procedures were “inappropriate” and “incorrect”. Subsequent to the RCS report, GOSH announced that all 723 of Mr. Jabbar’s patients would be provided with an independent report assessing the extent of harm they had experienced. These reviews, conducted by specialist surgeons unaffiliated with GOSH, rely on patient records supplied by the hospital. Families have begun to receive these reports concerning their children’s care. BBC News has communicated directly with four families and indirectly with an additional 12, all of whom assert that the reports fail to accurately represent their children’s experiences and frequently generate more inquiries than resolutions. According to these families, numerous reports were finalized without any interviews or direct engagement with the patient or their family. Parents characterize these reports as indicative of a “culture of cover-up,” informing the BBC that GOSH has “failed their children,” resulting in physical and mental harm. A mother stated: “Mr Jabbar was known for not writing up records or keeping notes correctly, but these reviews have been based on hospital notes. My daughter’s report doesn’t reflect her journey at all.” A spokesperson for GOSH conveyed the hospital’s profound regret, expressing a desire for “every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for.” They further stated: “We commissioned an independent review of patient care, which is in line with the NHS England guidelines.” Dean Stalham’s daughter, Bunty, was diagnosed with a rare bone disease at birth. Over a 15-month duration, Bunty had several operations, all of which were unsuccessful, causing her intense pain and requiring strong pain medication for months. Bunty’s report classified the physical impact on her as “moderate,” a categorization her father disputes as “simply wrong.” Mr. Stalham remarked: “It says she had six procedures. I can count 10.” He continued: “Not a single one of Bunty’s surgeries worked, and none of them were of any benefit to her whatsoever. When they were trying to lengthen her leg they ended up shortening it by about eight inches.” Other parents express dissatisfaction that the reports assessed their child’s psychological harm as either “none” or “mild.” Claire Osborne questioned regarding her daughter, Ella: “How can it say she has no psychological harm when they haven’t even spoken to the child?” Ella suffers from Shwachman Diamond Syndrome II, a condition that causes her knees to bend inward and results in intense pain. Ella received a referral for psychological support in 2022, following an unsuccessful operation performed by Mr. Jabbar to realign her knees. Her mother recounted: “She cried herself to sleep each night. She was in a wheelchair and constant agony for years. She has nervous ticks now. She didn’t have them before Jabbar.” Hindiya Omar, Mansur’s mother, recalled feeling reassured upon her initial meeting with Mr. Jabbar at GOSH in 2018, characterizing him as charismatic and attentive. She was convinced her son was receiving excellent care. Ms. Omar stated: “I felt lucky my boy was being seen by the best in the world. I didn’t question what was being recommended because I trusted them entirely.” Mansur had been experiencing a sore knee. Following two operations performed by Mr. Jabbar, Mansur developed nerve damage, leading to foot drop, a condition that impairs the ability to lift or move the foot and can alter gait. Currently, Mansur’s knee is deformed and he cannot bend it, and his leg growth has been impeded. Ms. Omar expressed: “They have destroyed his leg, he complains of being in agonising pain every day. I can’t trust anyone now – especially not the hospital for letting this happen.” She noted that her last encounter with Mr. Jabbar was in 2022. Subsequently, she was informed that the surgeon was absent, but the hospital never indicated that Mr. Jabbar was under investigation. Ms. Omar indicated that this situation led to additional delays in Mansur’s care, with three appointments scheduled with Mr. Jabbar being booked, then cancelled, and subsequently rescheduled. A GOSH spokesperson confirmed that families were informed in August 2022 that Mr. Jabbar was on sabbatical. A GOSH spokesperson stated: “Assessing psychological harm is, however, complex due to many factors, and so we will always discuss concerns families may have and will do our best to ensure patients get the care and support they need going forward.” In February, Ms. Omar received a telephone call informing her that Mansur’s prolonged pain and life-altering surgeries were under investigation. The independent review of Mansur’s treatment by Mr. Jabbar determined that he experienced “moderate harm.” Mansur was five years old at his initial consultation with Mr. Jabbar. He is currently 12, awaiting further surgery, will permanently be unable to bend his knee, can only walk limited distances, and now relies on a wheelchair. Ms. Omar commented: “To say that a boy who has lost his childhood to this man has suffered ‘moderate harm’ is just the final insult for me.” In a separate statement, GOSH declared: “We are deeply sorry to the patients of this surgeon who we have let down,” further asserting: “Patient safety is our core purpose and we have a range of measures to ensure all our services are safe.” Responding to the BBC’s report, the hospital stated: “We completely appreciate that for families who have experienced pain and distress these findings may never feel adequate. We will always discuss concerns families may have and will do our best to ensure patients get the care and support they need going forward.” Mr. Jabbar was also employed at four other hospitals in London, three of which are in the private sector: St John and St Elizabeth, the Cromwell, and the Portland. St John and St Elizabeth reported that Mr. Jabbar performed three adult procedures at their facility between October 2020 and January 2023, adding that no concerns had been brought forward regarding his work. Cromwell Hospital indicated that Mr. Jabbar had operated on 12 adults and six children during his tenure there and that no complaints had been lodged. The hospital added: “Since the concerns around Mr Jabbar came to light, we have proactively contacted all patients directly and are continuing to stay in close contact while this investigation proceeds.” The HCA group, which includes the Portland, verified that Mr. Jabbar conducted 43 surgeries across its facilities. Before joining GOSH in 2017, he also served as an orthopaedic consultant at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The BBC has sought comment from Mr. Jabbar. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.