Charities and Specialist Medical Negligence Lawyers Will Be Available To Provide Support For Worried Patients

Patients with concerns regarding treatment by Birmingham surgeon Mr Manu Nair are being offered the chance to attend a special drop-in session with charities and legal representatives to find out what support is available to help them recover.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell’s expert Medical Negligence team is now representing more than 60 people who have concerns regarding the prostate, bladder and kidney treatment they received from Mr Nair, who has previously appeared as an expert on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies series.

The drop-in legal clinic, for both existing clients as well as any other patients who may be concerned about their treatment, is to be held between 1pm and 3pm on Tuesday 17th April 2018 at Irwin Mitchell’s offices at 31 Temple Street in Birmingham city centre. Charities Macmillan Cancer Care, Bladder and Bowel UK and Solihull Prostate Cancer Support Group will be speaking with those already considering legal action.

The patients – seen both privately and on the NHS – are concerned that they received treatment or surgery carried out by the consultant urologist when it was not necessary. Some patients have received letters from Heartlands NHS Hospital and the Spire Parkway private hospital outlining that many of his patients were being recalled for review and referring to  a Royal College of Surgeon’s investigation. Conditions were also imposed upon Mr Nair by the General Medical Council.

A special protocol has been established by the NHS and Irwin Mitchell to ensure cases related to Mr Nair are reviewed as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. One legal case run through the special system has already settled and there have been admissions of liability from the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust on several others which are now moving forward to conclusion.

Spire Healthcare has also recently announced that it is putting aside almost £30m to provide settlements for patients affected by surgeon Ian Paterson who was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent earlier this year. Patients affected by treatment by Manu Nair now hope Spire will also seek to provide appropriate settlements for them too.

Laura Daly, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing those affected, said: “We have heard a number of hugely concerning accounts from clients regarding the treatment they received from Mr Nair. Many of the patients have had prostate cancer treatment or surgery by the Consultant Urologist however some have later questioned whether they ever had cancer, or if they did whether the surgery they received was adequate, while others were given a treatment known as HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) which we allege had yet to be approved for use outside a clinical trial and which our clients had not been informed of.

“The huge impact that this has had on our clients cannot be overstated, with some being left suffering incontinence, pain when passing urine and even facing the trauma of never being able to have children.

“While nothing can change what they have been through, we are hopeful that this protocol will at least ensure that the cases of those treated through the NHS are reviewed promptly and in a manner which ensures that where appropriate they gain swift legal redress for what they have faced.

“The scheme agreed with the NHS is already proving useful for patients with one settlement agreed and liability on several other cases already being admitted meaning they should now move forward swiftly. It’s important that all patients affected receive the help and support they need and we are delighted that several charities will be on hand at the drop-in session to offer advice to our clients.”

Patient Case Study

One patient treated by Mr Nair is Anthony Marley from Solihull, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the right side of his prostate. The 56 year-old was advised that his cancer was very aggressive and encouraged to undergo a radical prostatectomy.

The surgery to remove his prostate was carried out on 23rd November 2012 and it is understood Mr Manu Nair conducted a ‘nerve sparing’ procedure which it is alleged was not an appropriate procedure in these circumstances. Since the surgery, Mr Marley has suffered from urinary incontinence, a number of urinary tract infections and erectile dysfunction. As a result of his urinary symptoms, Mr Marley had to undergo a bucalmucosa urethraplasty, a procedure where a skin graft is taken from the mouth to repair injuries formed within the urethra.

Mr Marley said: “I listened to Mr Nair believing that the surgery was the best way forward to treat my problems, so to be told that the treatment may not have been carried out appropriately is very upsetting.

“I now suffer from pain and have had a number of infections, and have to have regular check-ups. I’m told it’s possible the cancer may return in future which is really hard to take in. I just want to make sure the treatment that I, and seemingly many others, have received is properly investigated so that lessons can be learned.”

Gruffydd Owen, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell working as part of the team on these cases said: “Anthony has suffered life changing injuries and faces an uncertain prognosis with the prospect of further surgery. Whilst nothing can turn back the clock, we hope that the Protocol agreed with the NHS will help get Anthony and others the answers they need and the funds to ensure an improved quality of life going forward.”

Irwin Mitchell’s group actions experts have strong experience in developing such schemes in partnership with the NHS’s legal representatives, having pioneered similar initiatives in relation to other doctors facing multiple cases involving their work such as London gynaecologist Rod Irvine, surgeon Manjit Bhamra in Yorkshire and consultant Rob Jones in Cornwall.

Patients who are concerned about their treatment by Mr Manu Nair who wish to know more about the Scheme can contact Laura Daly at Irwin Mitchell on 0370 1500 100  or by emailing laura.daly@irwinmitchell.com.