Alleged negligence by gynaecologist Rod Irvine

Hodge Jones & Allen and other clinical negligence specialist firms acting on behalf of victims of alleged negligence by gynaecologist Rod Irvine have agreed a special scheme with the NHS Litigation Authority to ensure a collaborative approach to reaching early resolution of their claims:

“The NHS Litigation Authority, which indemnifies the NHS in England against legal claims, is pleased to announce that it has agreed a protocol with Bolt Burdon Kemp, Hodge Jones & Allen, Irwin Mitchell LLP, and Powell & Co Solicitors, to handle legal claims arising out of the care provided by Mr Rod Irvine, Consultant Gynaecologist, when he was practising at South London Healthcare NHS Trust. The aim of the protocol is for the parties to work collaboratively in order to resolve these claims without the need for formal court proceedings.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust initiated a review of the care of patients who had been treated by Mr Irvine after concerns were raised. Mr Irvine practised at Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Sidcup, the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. An information hotline was set up, and affected patients have been contacted.”

Mr Irvine was suspended from practice in November 2012 and last year the South London Healthcare Trust, which has now been dissolved, contacted around 1,900 women who had operations or other procedures undertaken by Mr Irvine, notifying them that there may be concerns with their treatment.
Now the NHSLA which deals with medical negligence claims has set up this special scheme to review claims relating to Mr Irvine.

Specialist clinical negligence solicitor Emma Wray is dealing with cases at Hodge Jones & Allen and points out that many of the women involved have suffered not only physical injury but psychiatric/psychological injury and are still deeply troubled by the aftermath of their treatment.

“It is of concern that again we are seeing the NHS having to pick up the pieces following an apparently rogue surgeon managing to maintain consultant status and continuing to practice when proper clinical governance should have rung alarm bells much earlier. Many of his allegedly victims were simply reassured that they had suffered complications related to surgery, and the first that many of them knew that questions have been raised about his practice was when the South London Healthcare Trust notified them that there may be concerns with their treatment”.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is also investigating a number of complaints against Mr Irvine and the GMC Interim Orders Panel has placed restrictions upon his practice, with a full GMC hearing due to be held in 2015.

If you have an enquiry in relation to the above Emma Wray can be contacted directly on 020 7874 8463 or email ewray@hja.net.