05.12.2012

Irwin Mitchell Says Public Inquiry Is Only Way To Provide Answers To Worried Patients

Expert medical lawyers at Irwin Mitchell say reports that a second consultant has been banned from direct contact with patients after a ‘serious incident’ at The Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro shows the urgent need for a full Public Inquiry into working practices within the trust.

Hospital Chiefs confirmed yesterday (5 December) that a second consultant from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at the hospital in Treliske is being investigated after concerns have been raised about their treatment.

The latest news comes after it was revealed last month that over 1,500 patients were contacted by the NHS following an investigation into former consultant obstetrician Kenneth Jones, known as Rob. He was suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) in May and retired shortly after.

Medical law experts at Irwin Mitchell are now writing to local MPs requesting a full Public Inquiry into working practices at the hospital.

Julie Lewis, a Partner and medical law expert at Irwin Mitchell is leading a team of specialist lawyers in the South West acting in relation to the case of Gynaecologist Rob Jones’ surgery.

She said: “We are shocked and appalled to hear that a second surgeon at the same hospital is being investigated after concerns have been raised about patients’ treatment.

“A full Public Inquiry would provide answers for all the victims concerned and ensure that any systemic failures which allowed Mr Jones and the second consultant to provide alleged negligent treatment are indentified and improved immediately.

“We believe a number of hospital staff must have known what was happening, particularly in the case of Rob Jones, and a fully independent inquiry is needed urgently to get to the bottom of it.

“It is the only way patients will get reassurance that someone is held accountable for the mistakes made during their care so that lessons can be learnt to prevent such a large-scale investigation from happening again.”

Irwin Mitchell is representing patients across the country who have been affected by alleged negligent surgery. These include those treated by Dr Manjit Bhamra in South Yorkshire, Dr Ian Paterson in the Midlands, the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry and now Dr Rob Jones. Over 3,500 patients are affected by these cases alone.