A disgraced surgeon who left a trail of damaged patients through multiple botched operations has continued receiving NHS pension payments totalling nearly £1 million while living abroad, an investigation has revealed.
Habib Rahman, who worked at hospitals across Kent and Sussex, was found to have caused significant harm to numerous patients through negligent surgical procedures before fleeing the country.
A Pattern of Medical Failures
During his time working within the NHS, Rahman was responsible for multiple cases of surgical negligence that left patients with life-changing injuries. Despite numerous complaints and investigations into his conduct, the surgeon managed to continue practising before ultimately leaving the UK.
Most shockingly, Rahman has continued to benefit from the very system he betrayed, receiving regular pension payments funded by British taxpayers while avoiding accountability for his actions.
The Million Pound Escape
Documents obtained through investigation show that Rahman has received approximately £1 million in pension payments since his departure from the UK. This financial reward for failure has sparked outrage among patient safety advocates and medical ethics experts.
"This represents a catastrophic failure in our healthcare safeguarding systems," said one medical insider. "That someone who caused such harm to patients can not only escape consequences but continue to profit from the NHS is utterly unconscionable."
Systemic Failures Exposed
The case has raised serious questions about how problematic medical practitioners can slip through regulatory nets and continue operating despite multiple red flags. Several hospitals where Rahman worked have faced scrutiny over their failure to address concerns about his competence in a timely manner.
Patient advocacy groups are now calling for urgent reforms to prevent similar situations occurring in future, including:
- Stronger reporting mechanisms for concerning surgical outcomes
- Faster intervention when multiple complaints arise
- Clawback provisions for pension benefits in cases of gross medical negligence
- Better information sharing between NHS trusts about problematic practitioners
The Department of Health has acknowledged the case but declined to comment on individual circumstances, stating only that patient safety remains their "highest priority."
