An investigation has found that 94 children were harmed while under the care of a former surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh).
A clinical review published on Thursday revealed that former orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar caused significant harm during his five-year tenure at the renowned London children’s hospital.
The review examined 789 cases involving Mr Jabbar, who specialised in limb-lengthening and reconstruction procedures between 2017 and 2022.
Of the 98 patients found to have suffered harm, 94 cases were directly attributed to the surgeon’s treatment.
Investigators found 36 children suffered severe harm, 39 moderate harm and 19 mild harm.
Severe cases included delayed diagnoses of complications and operations that failed to achieve their intended outcomes, while mild harm included unnecessary exposure to general anaesthetic.
The report documented widespread substandard practice, identifying serious failings in surgical planning, execution and aftercare.
Independent experts found Mr Jabbar prematurely removed bone fixation devices, combined procedures without clear justification and incorrectly positioned implants.
Mr Jabbar specialised in limb-lengthening and reconstruction procedures between 2017 and 2022
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Other concerns included bone incisions made at inappropriate levels using unsuitable methods, surgical decisions that contradicted intraoperative scan findings, and failures to consult senior colleagues when infections developed.
“There were some serious problems found, including poor planning before surgery, not making the area stable enough, unclear or incomplete notes, and putting implants in the wrong place,” the report noted.
The review concluded that Mr Jabbar delivered “highly inconsistent” care, marked by “recurrent deficiencies in documentation, assessment, and surgical decision-making”.
Patient records were frequently incomplete, preventing clear conclusions in some cases.
Mr Jabbar worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital for five years
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Families affected by Mr Jabbar’s treatment have expressed fury at the findings.
James Wood, 19, from Great Yarmouth, was left in “horrifying” pain after a knee operation in which a pin securing a frame protruded into his thigh, damaging his femoral artery.
Vivaan Sharma, 12, underwent a leg-lengthening operation, which was later deemed “incorrect and unsuitable”.
His father said: “It’s appalling. Our boy will be affected for life.”
Another patient, Bunty, required the amputation of her lower leg following multiple operations by Mr Jabbar, with the case classified as moderate harm.
The review concluded that Mr Jabbar delivered ‘highly inconsistent’ care
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CMC HOSPITALHer father, Dean Stalham, described the findings as “too little, too late”, arguing warning signs should have been identified earlier.
Lizzie Roberts, whose son Tate now faces further surgery and has dropped out of college due to ongoing pain, accused the hospital of having “marked its own homework”.
Gosh chief executive Matthew Shaw issued an apology to families, describing Mr Jabbar’s conduct as “entirely unacceptable”.
He said the findings marked the “bleakest day” in the hospital’s history.
“We are profoundly sorry to all the patients and their families who have been affected by the care provided by Mr Jabbar,” Mr Shaw said.
The chief executive said the hospital had acted “incredibly quickly” once concerns emerged, but admitted changes came “too late for the families affected”.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the report will now be reviewed to determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted.
After having his UK medical license revoked in January 2024, Mr Jabbar is believed to have left Britain and is now working in Dubai.