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Children Harmed in Hospital Surgery Scandal
14 Sep
Summary
- Hundreds of patients, mostly children, were harmed during surgeries at Addenbrooke's.
- A hospital surgeon was suspended in early 2025 amid concerns over surgical standards.
- Reviews revealed a pattern of missed opportunities in handling surgical concerns.
Hundreds of orthopaedic patients, primarily children, have been harmed at Addenbrooke's Hospital, a major trauma center in Cambridge. In early 2025, surgeon Kuldeep Stohr was suspended following concerns about surgeries falling below expected standards.
An update mistakenly released from the hospital trust's board papers revealed that of 924 patients reviewed, 209 experienced harm, with 47 cases classified as severe, including one fatality. These issues emerged when other clinicians reviewed Stohr's patients in her absence, noting a higher-than-expected complication rate.
Two separate reviews, one by Verita and a clinical review led by Andrew Kennedy KC, were launched. Verita's October 2025 report identified significant missed opportunities by the hospital leadership in addressing concerns. The review suggested Stohr was under-managed early in her career at the trust and that deficiencies in her practice persisted for years.
The Kennedy review is ongoing and expected to conclude in November. The hospital trust has apologized to affected patients and families for the harm experienced and for the premature release of sensitive information. Families, represented by Hudgell Solicitors, anticipate a critical final report and some are calling for a public inquiry into the matter.
