As a clinical negligence solicitor, my focus is always on patient safety. When we read headlines about "botched surgeries" and hundreds of children being affected by a single surgeon, it is easy to get lost in the staggering numbers. However, behind every statistic is a child and a family whose lives have been irrevocably affected.

The recent reports concerning Mr Yaser Jabbar, a former consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), are particularly distressing. The Royal College of Surgeons has reviewed hundreds of cases, identifying nearly 100 children who suffered harm—many with life-changing injuries.

From my perspective, this is not just a story of one individual’s failings; it is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that follow when systemic safeguards fail.

The scale of the failings

Mr Jabbar worked within GOSH’s lower limb reconstruction service between 2017 and 2022. The findings from the RCS review are harrowing. They include:

• Inappropriate surgeries: Procedures carried out that were of no benefit or for which there was no clinical justification.

• Severe physical harm: Children left with leg length discrepancies of up to 20cm, chronic pain, nerve damage, and, in the most tragic cases, amputations.

• Consent and communication issues: A failure to seek proper informed consent and a lack of transparency with families regarding post-surgical complications.

What I find most troubling, having represented many families in similar circumstances, is the report of a "dysfunctional" culture. It is alleged that concerns were raised by both staff and parents as early as 2020, yet it took years for the full extent of the harm to be acknowledged and for the surgeon to stop practicing in the UK.

Patient safety: The culture of listening

In my previous blogs, I have often discussed Martha’s Rule - a vital initiative that empowers families to seek a second opinion when they feel their concerns are being ignored. The GOSH case highlights exactly why such protocols are vital. In its simplest form, patient safety relies on one core skill: listening.

I have sat in countless conferences where independent medical experts have observed that the treating clinician simply "didn't take a history" or "didn't ask the right questions." When parents at GOSH expressed worries about their child’s progress or the necessity of a procedure, they should have been met with transparency, not "gaslighting" or dismissiveness.

The NHS operates under tremendous pressure, but the duty to listen to a patient’s (or a parent’s) concerns costs nothing. When that duty is neglected, the results are all too apparent.

Practical advice for families when their child is having surgery

If your child is undergoing treatment or has a complex surgery scheduled, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. While you should be able to trust the expertise of your clinical team, you are also your child’s best advocate.

Based on my experience in clinical negligence, here are some practical steps you can take:

• Ask for clarification: If you don't understand the justification for treatment, ask for an easy-to-understand explanation, until all your questions or concerns are answered. For instance, you could ask: What are the risks? What are the alternatives?

• Keep your own records: Take notes during consultations. If your child develops new symptoms or pain after surgery, document them clearly with dates and times.

• Exercise your right to a second opinion: If you are not satisfied with the answers you are receiving, or if your child’s condition is not improving as expected, you have the right to request a review by another consultant.

• Utilise PALS: The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can offer support and help you navigate the hospital’s internal complaints process if you feel your voice isn't being heard.

Learning lessons, not just clearing backlogs

The government and the NHS are currently focused on improving the NHS and reducing waiting lists. While these are crucial goals, we must ensure that the drive for efficiency does not come at the expense of safety.

The investigation into Mr Jabbar and the culture at GOSH must lead to more than just an apology. It must lead to an honest assessment of how we protect the most vulnerable patients in our care. When a surgeon is described as "blasé" about complications, that is a failure of leadership an oversight that must be addressed at a systemic level.