Report Reveals Severe Patient Suffering Due to Brain Surgery Errors at NHS Trust

A critical report has determined that patients endured years of avoidable suffering because probes were incorrectly positioned in their brains, a result of deficiencies at an NHS trust. The BBC has reviewed the leaked report concerning deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures performed at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which additionally indicates that a whistleblower faced neglect, intimidation, and disciplinary action. Wendy Swain, whose electrodes were incorrectly placed for 11 years, resulting in walking difficulties and a facial twitch, stated: “They’ve made my life hell.” The trust, which was already facing criticism after an investigation uncovered a culture of bullying and insufficient transparency, expressed that it was “truly sorry” for the errors and conveyed “deep regret”. Dr Chris Clough, who previously chaired the National Clinical Advisory Team and supervised the conclusive report on the brain surgery failures, voiced his skepticism that the trust was internalizing lessons. He urged: “I am begging them to get this report out and be open and fair with patients.” He added: “There’s suffering that has gone on here and they need to let people know what went on.” Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical intervention designed for individuals experiencing severe movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. This procedure utilizes electrical pulses to substantially diminish a patient’s involuntary tremors and enhance their overall quality of life. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, managed by the trust—one of England’s largest hospital trusts—was a pioneer of this procedure and stood as a prominent center for it in the UK. However, the independent report identified that staffing alterations around 2017 contributed to a decline in the service’s efficacy. Patients experienced severe consequences, including an inability to walk, slurred speech, and vision impairments. Several were compelled to resign from their employment and reported experiencing suicidal ideation. The report further disclosed: Anwen White, renowned for performing surgery on Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who sustained a gunshot wound to the head from the Taliban, served as the principal surgeon in the trust’s DBS service during this period. Mrs. Swain underwent her initial operation by Mrs. White in 2013. Following the procedure, the patient reported an immediate sensation of her foot dragging and developed a pronounced facial twitch. A subsequent review of her medical records confirmed the right electrode was incorrectly placed. Six years elapsed before Mrs. White performed another operation, yet a later assessment revealed the repositioned electrode had followed the identical path as previously, and her issues persisted. Mrs. Swain stated: “They’ve made my life hell. My mind had to reset itself to being more disabled,” adding, “I look at people walking and think ‘I wish I could be like that’. I just want to be how I was.” Senior nurse Jamilla Kausar became a whistleblower, voicing worries regarding patient safety, which led to the service’s suspension in July 2017 by the divisional director. However, the report indicated that not only were her concerns disregarded, but she also experienced retaliation from medical colleagues, representing a lost chance to address her warnings. Disciplinary measures were subsequently taken against her. The service was halted and recommenced three separate times, ultimately ceasing operations in October 2019. Ms. Kausar started referring patients who reported complications to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. In January 2020, Prof. Tipu Aziz of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust communicated with the clinical lead for neurosurgery in Birmingham, asserting: “We have revised 10 cases last year and now have another eight so far.“The implants have been incompetently done.” The initial revelation of the failure emerged from a serious incident report concerning the treatment of Chris Tyler. Probes implanted by Mrs. White in 2017 and subsequently replaced in 2019 resulted in slurred speech and functional impairment. On both occasions, the probes were incorrectly situated, and the issue was ultimately rectified through additional surgery performed in Oxford. Mr. Tyler had previously commented: “There was a culture of failure and a culture of not wanting to take responsibility for what happened and I feel a bit betrayed.” Keith Bastable, another patient, experienced “intolerable side effects” following his surgery in April 2019, which encompassed slurred speech and vision issues. Mr. Bastable informed the trust in writing that he had only met Mrs. White on two occasions: the day of the operation and the day electrode programming commenced. He was not informed that the leads were too distant from the target to be effective until his consultation at the neurosurgery unit in Oxford. He recounted: “Nobody would tell me what was wrong and Mrs White wouldn’t see me. I went to Oxford and they told me exactly what was wrong.” He questioned: “Why didn’t Birmingham tell me?” A subsequent operation in Oxford has since rectified the issue, enabling him to work and participate in walking football. His wife, Jennifer, expressed: “I’m angry. We have lost precious time. “Why hasn’t someone said enough is enough? Patients had to start complaining to make things happen.” Following the third suspension of the service, a review determined that 12 out of 1