Spire Healthcare: Hundreds of patients recalled over concerns of ‘unnecessary shoulder surgeries’

Patient's lawyers warn recall could be 'tip of the iceberg' at private healthcare provider

Surgeon Habib Rahman is alleged to have performed unnecessary shoulder operations at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull (PA)

Hundreds of patients for the UK’s second largest private healthcare provider have been recalled over concerns about operations performed by surgeon Habib Rahman.

The surgeon is alleged to have performed unnecessary or inappropriate shoulder surgeries at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, West Midlands, lawyers said.

Spire Healthcare has invited 217 patients of Mr Rahman, whose practice was suspended in January 2019, to return to hospital and review their care.

“Following the Royal College's guidance, we wrote to all shoulder patients who were identified as requiring follow up to offer them a consultation with an independent surgeon to review their care and to understand more about their post-operative recovery,” Spire said in a statement.

“We would encourage patients who have received a letter to follow up on our offer of a free review by an independent specialist to ensure their care has been as expected.”

The private provider restricted Mr Rahman's practice in September 2018 following concerns, before suspending it in January last year.

His operating licence was then withdrawn by Spire in May following a review by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Lawyers for Thompsons Solicitors, acting on behalf of one of Mr Rahman's patients, have suggested there were "systemic failings" at the private provider.

"This could be the tip of the iceberg, so we encourage others who feel they have received similar unnecessary care from Mr Habib Rahman or indeed any other surgeon at a Spire hospital to come forward," Linda Millband, clinical negligence lead at Thompsons Solicitors, said.

None of the surgeon's NHS patients have been recalled, according to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The Spire Parkway was one of the hospitals where disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson worked.

Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 for intentionally wounding his patients by exaggerating or inventing cancer risks and claiming payments for more expensive procedures.

Spire reported a £9.6m pre-tax profit for the first six months of 2019, rising from a £2.2m loss in the same period in 2018, after it was buoyed by cost-cutting measures and increased numbers of NHS referrals.

Additional reporting by PA