Fletchers client discusses College of Surgeons Report with BBC News

Fletchers Solicitors client, Claire Osborne, was recently interviewed by BBC News following receipt of an independent report, into the treatment received by her daughter, Ella, whilst she was a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The report had been obtained by the hospital after a review by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) uncovered significant patient safety concerns related to hundreds of young children, who were under the care of orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Yaser Jabbar. The safety concerns specifically relate to the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service, during the period between 2017 and 2022.

Claire’s response to the report

The RCS review examined a group of children under the care of Mr Jabbar, and found that at least 22 children suffered severe harm under this service – with one child requiring a leg amputation. Despite the severity of these findings, affected families, including the Osbornes’, have only had limited access to the report which detail these failures. This has never been fully published – leaving the family in the dark about the full extent of Mr Jabbar’s actions. The heartbreaking case surrounding Great Ormond Street Hospital, and the actions of Mr Jabbar, has left dozens of families facing uncertainty, distress, and a desperate need for answers.

It has been previously reported in The Sunday Times that the RCS report covered 721 patients, potentially affected by Mr Jabbar.  A statement from GOSH indicated that they intend to ensure that “all patients have their care reviewed thoroughly” and that they are working through the group of patients to understand any issues albeit that this was “taking some time”.

To date, it is understood that only 60 patients have been reviewed, and Ella’s case was one of them. However, despite this, significant concerns remain in Claire’s mind in relation to the approach behind these reports.

During the interview with the BBC, Claire reflected on the report concerning her daughter. Ella suffers from a number of rare conditions which affect her neurological development and growth. In particular, she suffers from a knee deformity which causes her knees to bend inwards. To treat this condition, Mr Jabbar performed surgery to insert growth plates into Ella’s legs, in a bid to try and straighten them. This was not successful, and the plates later required removal and a different corrective surgery, which was successfully was carried out by a different surgeon. Despite the trauma that Ella experienced while recovering from the surgery by Mr Jabbar, which she found very painful and distressing, the report found that there was no evidence of “psychological harm”.

Claire said: “How can it say she has no psychological harm when they haven’t even spoken to the child?”

“She cried herself to sleep each night. She was in a wheelchair and constant agony for years. She has nervous ticks now. She didn’t have them before Mr Jabbar.”

The follow-up statement from the hospital

In a statement, Great Ormond Street Hospital said: “We are deeply sorry to the patients of this surgeon who we have let down,” adding, “patient safety is our core purpose and we have a range of measures to ensure all our services are safe.”

In response to the BBC’s report, the hospital responded: “We completely appreciate that for families who have experienced pain and distress, these findings may never feel adequate. We will always discuss concerns families may have and will do our best to ensure patients get the care and support they need going forward.”

Our client’s experience

After the operation by Mr Jabbar in August 2020, Ella struggled with her recovery, and she was referred for psychological support to help her cope with the prospect of yet more surgery when it was unsuccessful. Ella had always received compassionate care from Great Ormond Street Hospital, but the ongoing pain and difficulties took their toll.

In addition, despite raising repeated concerns about Ella’s worsening condition and protruding metal screws, Claire and her husband were dismissed by Mr Jabbar. It wasn’t until they sought a second opinion from another NHS consultant that Ella’s journey toward recovery began. The new medical team performed several further surgeries, leading to a remarkable improvement in Ella’s quality of life. Yet, the emotional impact on the Osborne family remains profound, amplified by the hospital’s review process.

A courageous advocate for others

The Osbornes’ story is just one of many, and Claire has courageously stepped forward to advocate for accountability and support for other families. Represented by Amy Kirk, a dedicated lawyer from Fletchers Solicitors, the family is pursuing a claim against Great Ormond Street Hospital to uncover the truth and seek justice.

Amy Kirk, and her expert team at Fletchers Solicitors, is resolutely committed to holding the hospital accountable, ensuring that all affected families have the opportunity to heal and rebuild their trust in the healthcare system.

Claire has also taken proactive steps to support other parents facing similar struggles by establishing a private Facebook group. This community empowers families to share their stories, seek support, and demand accountability for the harm caused. With empathy and dedication, Fletchers Solicitors continues to fight tirelessly for justice, advocating for transparency, accountability, and closure for every family impacted by these tragic events.

Response from Fletchers Solicitors

Following Claire’s interview with BBC News, the team at Fletchers Solicitors are in full support of Claire and her campaign for justice.

Amy Kirk responded to the coverage:

“It is extremely important that in light of the concerns raised in the original RCS report and the horrendous experiences of patients such as Ella and many others, that the Trust doesn’t compound matters further with poorly executed reviews. Independent assessments based upon the records alone, without discussion with the patient themselves will only serve to propagate inaccuracies and will not fully reflect the experience of the patients. It is not a surprise therefore that many of the patients who have had their treatment reviewed have been left disappointed by the findings. Whilst this process is ongoing, we would urge the Trust to do their best to rectify these issues.”