Families of disgraced child surgeon hit out at ‘whitewash’

Families of children operated on by a disgraced surgeon have labelled independent reports into their care as a "whitewash" and a "final insult".

Yaser Jabbar, a former surgeon at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), carried out procedures including leg lengthening and straightening. He also operated on children with complicated disorders.

But some cases linked to him resulted in harm, including life-long injuries and amputation.

Mr Jabbar left the hospital in 2023 after a report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) found some of the surgery had been "inappropriate" and "incorrect".

Dean Stalham's daughter, Bunty, was born with a rare bone disease. Over a 15-month period, Bunty underwent a number of operations which all failed, leaving her in agony and taking strong pain relief for months.

In Bunty's report, the physical impact on her was deemed "moderate" - but her father says it is "simply wrong".

"It says she had six procedures. I can count 10," Mr Stalham says.

"Not a single one of Bunty's surgeries worked, and none of them were of any benefit to her whatsoever. When they were trying to lengthen her leg they ended up shortening it by about eight inches."

Other parents are angry the reports graded their child's psychological harm as "none" or "mild".

"How can it say she has no psychological harm when they haven't even spoken to the child?" Claire Osborne says of her daughter, Ella.

Ella has Shwachman Diamond Syndrome II, causing her knees to bend inwards and causing severe pain.

Ella was referred for psychological support in 2022, after a failed operation to realign her knees was carried out by Mr Jabbar.

"She cried herself to sleep each night," her mother says. "She was in a wheelchair and constant agony for years. She has nervous ticks now. She didn't have them before Jabbar."

When Mansur's mother Hindiya Omar first met Mr Jabbar in 2018 at GOSH, she says she was reassured, describing him as charismatic and attentive. She felt certain her son was in safe hands.

"I felt lucky my boy was being seen by the best in the world," Ms Omar says. "I didn't question what was being recommended because I trusted them entirely."

At the time, Mansur was complaining of a sore knee. After two operations carried out by Mr Jabbar, Mansur suffered nerve damage resulting in foot drop, which can cause difficulty lifting or moving your foot and can affect the way you walk.

Mansur's knee is now deformed and he is unable to bend it, while his leg growth has been stunted.

"They have destroyed his leg, he complains of being in agonising pain every day," Ms Omar says. "I can't trust anyone now – especially not the hospital for letting this happen."

She says the last time she saw Mr Jabbar was in 2022. After that, she says she was told the surgeon was away, but at no stage did the hospital say Mr Jabbar was being investigated.

Ms Omar says this meant Mansur's care was further delayed and three appointments with Mr Jabbar were booked, then cancelled and rearranged.

A GOSH spokesperson says families were told in August 2022 that Mr Jabbar was on sabbatical leave.

A GOSH spokesperson says: "Assessing psychological harm is, however, complex due to many factors, and so 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."

In February, Ms Omar received a phone call telling her that Mansur's years of pain and life-altering surgeries were being investigated.

The independent review into Mansur's care concluded that he suffered "moderate harm" through his treatment from Mr Jabbar.

Mansur was five years old when he first saw Mr Jabbar. He is now 12 years old and awaiting more surgery. He will never bend his knee, can only walk short distances and now uses a wheelchair.

"To say that a boy who has lost his childhood to this man has suffered 'moderate harm' is just the final insult for me," Ms Omar says.