Many Patients Taking Legal Action After Alleged Negligent Treatment

Specialist medical lawyers acting on behalf of victims of alleged negligence by gynaecologist Rod Irvine have agreed a special scheme with the NHS to ensure that patients’ cases are reviewed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing around 20 people who allege they have suffered injuries as a result of treatment by consultant gynaecologist Rod Irvine. Irwin Mitchell has a specialist team which deals with group actions in medical negligence who have pioneered similar schemes with the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) involving doctors around the country facing multiple claims such as Manjit Bhamra in Rotherham and Rob Jones in Cornwall,

Mr Irvine was suspended from practice in November 2012 and it emerged last year that the South London Healthcare Trust, which has now been dissolved, contacted around 2,000 women who had operations or other procedures undertaken by Mr Irvine, notifying them that there may be concerns with their treatment.

Now the NHSLA which deals with medical negligence claims has set up a special scheme alongside expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to review claims relating to Mr Irvine as quickly and efficiently as possible but it will only be open for a limited period so patients affected are being asked to apply to the scheme as quickly as possible.

Esther Wilkinson a specialist solicitor in the medical negligence group actions team at Irwin Mitchell, representing the patients said:

Mr Irvine worked as an NHS consultant at Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup, Bromley’s Princess Royal Hospital, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. Mr Irvine also practised at a number of private clinics including Blackheath Hospital, Chelsfield Park Hospital, Fawkham Manor Hospital, Portland Hospital, Lister Hospital and the Wellington Clinic, Harley Street.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is now investigating a number of complaints against Mr Irvine and a GMC Interim Orders Panel has placed restrictions upon his practice. A GMC hearing is due to be held in 2015. A disciplinary hearing carried out by Mr Irvine’s former employers was held in June 2014. 

Some of Mr Irvine’s former NHS patients have had their treatment assessed by an independent review panel. The NHS carried out a sample review of 255 patients which raised concerns about the treatment provided to 49 women and highlighted more serious issues in relation to the treatment provided to 17 others.

However Irwin Mitchell has questions over the review process as many patients that have contacted lawyers have not been called back by the NHS.

David Body who heads the Medical Group Actions team at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Although some of our clients have been involved in the review process, questions remain outstanding about the standard of care which was provided to them. The majority of our clients have not been included in the review process. We welcome the investigation by the GMC and hope this will provide some answers for the questions our clients and their families have about their care.

“It is likely that there are many more women who have been affected who have not yet been contacted by the Trust and whose treatment has not been reviewed. Concerns have been raised about the limited scope of the review, the availability of medical records as part of the review and that private patients have not been included as part of this process.”

If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of gynaecological negligence, we may be able to help you claim compensation. See our Medical Negligence Guide for more information.