Spinal surgeon investigated in Coventry, Warwick and Northampton

The BBC’s Inside Out documentary programme featured two independent expert surgeons who severely criticise the work of neurosurgeon, Hussein El-Maghraby.

Concerns about operations carried out by the consultant neurosurgeon

Mr El-Maghraby is employed by The University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) and the private Woodland Hospital in Kettering, Northamptonshire, operated by Ramsay Healthcare.

BBC Inside Out West Midlands looked into concerns about operations carried out by the consultant neurosurgeon. During the programme one of the experts viewing a video of Mr El-Maghraby’s work on a patient said he was “appalled” and described the operation as “rough surgery“.

The programme alleges that Mr El-Maghraby removed a healthy part of a brain instead of a tumour during two operations. The BBC investigation also highlighted that in 2017 the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) was asked to investigate four of Mr El-Maghraby cases.

The RCS review looked at one particular spinal surgery Mr El-Maghraby carried out on a patient with severe back problems, including curvature of the spine. The patient had to have a second operation, spent seven months bedridden and is now incontinent and virtually unable to walk.

While the review concluded that “the level of care given by Mr El-Maghraby was appropriate to that expected from a consultant neurosurgeon”, it recommended to the Trust that that he should not perform complex spinal operations and brain surgery while the patient is awake. The Trust has confirmed that Mr El-Maghraby is no longer performing these types of operation.

Spinal surgeon negligence

Birchall Blackburn Law is currently representing a patient who received spinal surgery at UCHW NHS Trust and Woodland Hospital (Ramsay UK Healthcare Operations).

Andrew Taylor, Partner and head of Birchall Blackburn’s Healthcare and Clinical Risk team, says: “While it’s important to remember that negligent surgery is rare, the issues highlighted in the BBC documentary will be very concerning to patients. If you do have concerns then talk to a specialist solicitor as soon as possible. It can help a patient access extra support and rehabilitation that can make all the difference to a person’s future quality of life.”

Andrew is a Law Society accredited specialist in Clinical Negligence law and he and his team have decades of experience helping hundreds of people who have been through the trauma of negligent or unnecessary spinal surgery. Our experience means we understand the immense physical and psychological impact and the profound effect it has on the person, and their family and friends. We are dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for the people we help so they can go on to live a fulfilling life.

If you have any questions regarding negligent or unnecessary spinal surgery and making a compensation claim, talk to one of our compassionate and expert team members on 0800 230 0573 – for free and with no obligation. Or get in touch by emailing us on clinicalnegligence@birchallblackburn.co.uk.