A damning report has uncovered that surgeon Yaser Jabbar caused harm to 94 children during his tenure at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), one of the UK's leading paediatric centres. The findings, released recently, detail a pattern of substandard care spanning from 2017 to 2022, with the majority of affected children undergoing lower limb reconstruction surgeries.
Extent of Harm and Surgical Failings
The report categorised the harm inflicted on the young patients, revealing that 36 children experienced severe harm, 39 suffered moderate harm, and 19 faced mild harm. These figures highlight the significant impact on vulnerable patients and their families, raising serious questions about oversight and patient safety protocols at the hospital.
Key Issues Identified in the Report
Investigators pinpointed several critical failures in Jabbar's practice, including:
- Poor pre-surgical planning, which compromised the effectiveness and safety of procedures.
- Inadequate stabilisation of surgical areas, leading to increased risks and complications.
- Unclear or incomplete medical notes, hindering proper record-keeping and follow-up care.
- Misplacement of implants during operations, a grave error that can cause long-term health issues.
These deficiencies contributed directly to the harm reported, underscoring systemic lapses in clinical governance.
Background and Career Trajectory
Yaser Jabbar, a British consultant surgeon, trained at a UK medical school and attained consultant status in 2014. His career at GOSH involved treating hundreds of children, with 91 of the harmed patients being those he operated on. Despite his professional standing, concerns about his work emerged over time.
Hospital Response and Regulatory Actions
Concerns were initially raised to GOSH, prompting a retrospective review that identified seven complaints and one serious incident. Alarmingly, the report noted that the serious incident, closed in 2021, did not lead to further scrutiny of Jabbar's practices. In 2022, heightened concerns culminated in a formal review commissioned by the Royal College of Surgeons.
Jabbar began an unpaid sabbatical in October 2022 and formally resigned in June 2023. Since January 2024, he has not held a licence to practise medicine in the UK and is reported to have relocated overseas, leaving a trail of unanswered questions about accountability and regulatory oversight.
Apology from Hospital Leadership
Matthew Shaw, chief executive of GOSH, issued a heartfelt apology, stating, "We are profoundly sorry to all the patients and their families who have been affected by the care provided by Mr Jabbar." This statement acknowledges the deep distress caused and signals a commitment to addressing the fallout, though it raises broader issues about patient safety and transparency within the NHS.
The case has sparked calls for stricter monitoring of surgical practices and more robust mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasising the need for continuous improvement in healthcare standards to protect young patients.
