New NHS probe into spinal surgeon's care

Hundreds of patients treated by a spinal surgeon who was found to have caused them serious harm could have their cases reviewed.

NHS England has confirmed it will look back into two hospital reviews into John Bradley Williamson, who worked at Salford Royal Hospital and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital from 1991 to 2015.

It comes after former patients, who said they had experienced problems linked to his surgery, said they believed the previous reviews were too limited.

Mr Williamson said he has "always strived to provide the very best care for patients" and would cooperate with any patient care investigation.

Mr Williamson added that he was "unable to comment on specific patient care" due to patient confidentiality.

A report into the surgeon's care between 2009 and 2014 found he had caused "severe harm" to seven patients at Salford Royal Hospital. Some screws were poorly placed, and some patients suffered heavy blood loss, the report found.

One former patient, treated by Mr Williamson when she was 11, said she had been living in "agony" after the surgery at the former Pendlebury Children's Hospital, now Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Campaigners, including the sister of a teenager who died during spinal surgery by Mr Williamson, have called for a full recall of all patients on whom the surgeon operated.

In February, the campaigners went to Westminster to meet the the Patient Safety Minister, Baroness Gillian Merron. She wrote to NHS England to share their concerns.

In response, the health body, which is set to be abolished, set up a team to look into the two hospital investigations into Mr Williamson.

The process is expected to take six months. NHS England will then decide if further action needs to be taken.

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