Review into  Manchester spinal surgeon finds patients suffered life-changing harm

Patients suffered life-changing harm after treatment by a Manchester spinal surgeon, an independent review has found, with further support now being offered to those affected.

The review, commissioned by NHS England, examined treatment provided by John Bradley Williamson at Salford Royal, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Spire Manchester. Previous reviews have taken place into the treatment Mr Williamson provided, but patients had raised concerns that these reviews fell short of what was needed.

Lawyers supporting patients operated on by John Bradley Williamson

Expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who represent patients affected by Mr Williamson’s treatment, say it’s vital those with concerns are supported to come forward and get the answers they deserve.

The NHS England commissioned report recommends that all former patients should be able to request a face-to-face clinical review for at least the next three years, regardless of whether harm had previously been identified.

Tamlin Bolton is an expert medical negligence group action lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing patients affected by Mr Williamson’s treatment.

“This report is a significant moment for patients and families who have spent years feeling unheard. It accepts that real harm occurred and, crucially, that the reviews meant to examine that harm were too narrow, too reliant on flawed records, and failed to properly engage with the people most affected.

 

“While some investigations were undertaken in good faith, the report makes clear they didn’t answer key questions, didn’t command trust, and in some cases compounded the trauma patients were already living with. What comes through very strongly is that this cannot be treated as a purely historic issue or a technical exercise. 

 

"Patients want honesty, accountability and compassion, and they want their current lives and ongoing suffering to be recognised. The recommendation for a patient led, face to face review process reflects that shift, but the report also underlines how much work is still needed to rebuild trust and ensure this never happens again.

 

“For many, this has been a long and difficult journey, not only coping with the physical consequences but also trying to obtain answers to what happened to them.

 

“We’re supporting patients and families not only to secure those answers, but in many cases to access the specialist rehabilitation and care they now require following their treatment.

 

“It’s vital that anyone who has concerns is aware support is available and that they can come forward to have their care reviewed and their questions addressed.”

NHS England commissions review into Manchester spinal surgeon Mr Williamson

The report details the impact on patients, including paralysis, chronic pain, long-term disability and the need for further surgery. Families also described the lasting effects on their lives.

The review also highlights the emotional and psychological impact on patients and families. Many described feeling unheard and unsupported, particularly when complications arose.

Mr Williamson practised as a spinal surgeon in Manchester from the mid 1990s across both NHS and private settings until 2015.

Previous reviews into his practice examined patient care and safety over specific periods and led to a number of recommendations.

Surgery review findings

The latest report examines the adequacy of previous reviews into the care provided by Mr Williamson, alongside patient accounts and reviews how recommendations from earlier investigations have been taken forward.

It found:

•    Concerns about how complications following surgery were recorded, with some information not consistently captured in patient records.

•    Evidence that what happened to some patients after treatment and their experiences of care were not always fully reflected in clinical documentation.

•    Gaps in how incidents and concerns were tracked and followed up, making it difficult to see how issues were managed over time.

•    Limited evidence to show learning from previous incidents and reviews was consistently shared or acted on across services.

•    Concerns about how information from investigations, meetings and reviews was stored and accessed, including difficulties retrieving key records.

•    Issues identified in how patient concerns and feedback were heard and reflected within decision-making and reviews.

•    Inconsistencies in how safety and quality processes were applied across different parts of the service.

•    Challenges in linking findings from earlier reviews to clear actions and measurable improvements.

Review recommendations

While recommending further follow-up for patients, the review stops short of calling for a full recall of all those treated.

The report recommends closer monitoring, including a patient safety dashboard to track outcomes, after raising concerns about how complications, the effects of treatment on patients, and their experiences were recorded. It also proposes a combined action plan to improve communication and patient care, to help identify problems sooner and prevent similar harm in future.

A further phase of work has also been proposed to review how these changes are carried forward.