Addenbrooke’s review widened to include additional emergency orthopaedic patients

The ongoing clinical review into care provided by suspended surgeon Ms Kuldeep Stohr at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), has now been expanded to include additional patients who underwent emergency orthopaedic procedures.

Attwaters previously reported on the original investigation into orthopaedic treatment concerns at CUH, including the review of patients treated by Ms Stohr. You can read our earlier article here: Trust report warns of 32 missed opportunities at Addenbrooke’s Hospital regarding orthopaedic surgeon.

Recent developments suggest the scope of the review has widened further following findings identified during the ongoing independent review process.

According to a recent BBC News report, Dr Sue Broster, Chief Medical Officer at CUH, confirmed the extension applies “to a subset of patients who received emergency orthopaedic procedures”.

The BBC also reported that, in correspondence sent to the parents of a patient earlier this month, the Trust stated that “the external clinical review team have decided to increase the number of patients in scope of the clinical review”.

The letter reportedly continued: “The review will now include additional patients who have received an emergency orthopaedic procedure by Ms Kuldeep Stohr.”

Why has the review been expanded?

The key development is that the external review team has decided to widen the review to include additional patients who underwent emergency orthopaedic procedures carried out by Ms Stohr.

While the Trust has not publicly detailed the specific concerns behind that decision, the move suggests investigators believe further examination of these cases is necessary.

The BBC report also highlighted a distinction between the types of cases being examined. Concerns relating to emergency procedures have largely involved upper limb surgeries, while cases linked to planned procedures have predominantly involved lower limb surgeries.

As the review continues, the inclusion of additional emergency orthopaedic patients indicates efforts are ongoing to establish the full extent of any concerns and whether further patients may have been affected.

What could this mean for affected patients?

For patients and families already impacted by the review, the widening of its scope may understandably raise further questions about the care they received.

The decision to include additional emergency orthopaedic patients means a broader group of cases will now be examined. While no conclusions have yet been reached, the expansion demonstrates that enquiries remain ongoing and that the review team is continuing to assess concerns identified to date.

Patients who underwent treatment by Ms Stohr and have concerns about their care may wish to seek independent legal advice to better understand their position and whether further investigation may be appropriate.

The importance of transparency and patient safety

Cases of this nature highlight the importance of strong clinical governance, effective reporting procedures and a culture in which concerns can be raised and addressed promptly.

Independent reviews can play an important role in helping healthcare organisations identify lessons for the future while providing patients and families with greater clarity about what happened and how concerns were managed.

CUH has stated that it remains committed to supporting all patients and families affected by the review.

Further information can also be found in the Trust’s latest update on the orthopaedic service review, available on the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website.

How Attwaters can help

At Attwaters, our experienced Clinical Negligence team understands the distress and uncertainty situations such as these can cause for patients and their loved ones.

If you believe you may have been affected by negligent medical treatment, or would like advice regarding a potential claim, our team is here to provide clear, compassionate and practical guidance.

To speak with a member of our specialist team, please contact Attwaters today by email at enquiries@attwaters.co.uk, or call 0330 221 8855.