Expert Welcomes Decision On Consultant

A clinical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell who helped victims seriously injured after a series of errors during breast operations in their fight for justice has welcomed news that the consultant surgeon behind the problems have been struck off.

Puvaneswary Markandoo, who worked at Barnsley Hospital for three years up to 2008, was banned from working in private healthcare after the General Medical Council ruled she was not working to the required standard.

However, the Sheffield Star has reported a second investigation has led to her being banned from working in the sector at all. A number of women lodged complaints regarding her work, with many securing justice over the pain and trauma they suffered after surgery.

Georgina Sheldon, a medical negligence solicitor and specialist in surgery claims at Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office, represented six patients who sought answers over the serious problems they suffered following operations carried out by the surgeon.

She said: “Any doctor accused of poor standards of care and treatment needs to be held to account, so it is welcome news that the GMC has finally acted on the very serious concerns raised by Miss Markandoo’s work.

“Through my work I’ve seen the devastating impact that errors in surgery undertaken by the surgeon have had on so many people, leaving victims with both physical and psychological trauma which will affect them for the rest of their lives.

“We hope that the GMC’s move will encourage the NHS to improve its monitoring of the work of doctors, with a view to ensuring that all healthcare professionals are working to the highest possible standards.

“Too many people have already been affected by these problems, but improvements in assessments and monitoring could spare many other patients from the same trauma in the future.”