On Sunday we heard the news that Great Ormond Street Hospital is urgently investigating the treatment provided to 721 children by one of its former orthopaedic surgeons Mr Yaser Jabbar.

According to the Sunday Times, the hospital asked the Royal College of Surgeons to review its paediatric orthopaedic service after concerns were raised about Mr Jabbar. The newspaper quoted a leaked report which apparently says of the 37 children’s cases already reviewed, 22 have been found to have come to harm. It says 13 of these children have been found to have suffered “severe harm” which means they have sustained lifelong injuries. One child is said to have undergone an amputation which could have been avoided with alternative treatment.

Earlier this year, Great Ormond Street wrote to the families of all children treated by Mr Jabbar to inform them that their cases would be reviewed. The hospital says the review process started in April and will last around 18 months.

Concerns about the treatment provided by Dr Jabbar apparently include poor examinations and clinical decision-making, unacceptable treatment, failures to obtain consent for treatment as well as failures to warn parents of possible complications which may arise.

Shockingly, the Royal College of Surgeons review panel also found that some children had been subjected to operations which they could find no justification for and which had no clear benefit to the child.

Mr Jabbar, who is reportedly an expert in limb reconstruction, no longer works at Great Ormond Street Hospital and has not had a licence to practice in the UK since January 2024 according to the General Medical Council’s online register.

It now appears that the hospital trust will face multiple clinical negligence claims on behalf of the children affected to obtain compensation for the injuries they have suffered.

What to do if you believe your child has suffered harm as a result of treatment from Mr Jabbar

At JMW Solicitors we understand it is likely to be devastating to discover your child has suffered injury due to the actions of a trusted NHS surgeon and that they would have had a better outcome with appropriate treatment.

We are happy to provide free initial advice on the circumstances of each individual case and let you know if we think legal action is appropriate. If we accept instructions, we can usually offer a ‘No Win No Fee Agreement’ so there will be no financial risk to those who wish to pursue a claim.

Get in touch with our team today to see how we may be able to help.