German locum criticised at Inquest
GERMAN LOCUM CRITICISED AT INQUEST
An operation on a 94 year old Lincolnshire pensioner conducted by a German locum surgeon at Grantham Hospital was described by an expert witness as “the worst case of negligence I have come across in my clinical career” at an Inquest into her death held at Sleaford today.
Professor Angus Wallace told the Coroner Stuart Fisher that he found the degree of negligence involved in the operation “disturbing”.
Ena Dickinson a former NHS nurse who once acted as a driver for Lord Beaverbrook during the war fractured her left hip in a fall in July 2008. Over 6 weeks later she was operated on by Werner Kolb a German doctor who had been recruited through an agency to provide holiday cover for the resident orthopaedic surgeon.
The inquest heard that Dr Kolb did not see the patient before the operation and had made an incorrect incision into the left hip lacerating the femoral artery. Theatre nurses became so concerned that they called for help and eventually another surgeon took over the operation as she was in danger of bleeding to death.
Speaking after the inquest Ena’s daughter Kathy Ingram, a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, said:
“What happened to my mother was nothing short of a disgrace. Because the operation was conducted under a local anaesthetic she told me before she died that she was aware of some of the events in the operating theatre that day. I hope that lessons are learnt as a result of this case and better checks will be made on the competency of locum doctors.”
Paul Balen of Freeth Cartwright Solicitors who represented Mrs Dickinson’s family at the inquest said:
“This tragedy has all the hallmarks of a lack of organisation, planning and communication in the engagement of foreign locum doctors. It is highly likely that the operation was not even necessary. This was an old fracture and especially for a 94 year old could have been better treated by pain relief and gentle mobilisation.
“The locum surgeon did not follow correct pre-operative practice; did not see the patient beforehand or assess her suitability for the operation; he had to be asked to speak English not German in the operating theatre; failed to call for help when he got into trouble and afterwards failed to cooperate with the Coroner.
“Questions need to be asked how doctors can operate in this country without an assessment of their competency and familiarity with NHS procedures. Failure to cooperate with the authorities by both the locum agency and the German surgeon runs counter to the requirements of the Chief Medical Officer and the General Medical Council.
“It is disgraceful that it took the Coroner’s expert to report this surgeon to the GMC leaving him free to operate in the meantime. Grantham Hospital took no action for 9 months before it too reported him to the authorities.”
Dr Kolb who did not attend the inquest is suspended by the GMC but is believed to be free to operate in Germany.
ends - 17 March 2010
Notes for Editors:
1. Ena Dickinson died at Grantham Hospital on 26 October 2008 aged 94.
2. In early July 2008 she broke her femur in a fall and was eventually admitted to Grantham Hospital on 1st August.
3. On 20 August she was operated on by Dr Werner Kolb a locum German surgeon who had started work at the hospital on 11 August providing holiday cover.
4. The Theatre nurse became concerned when she did not recognise the incision used by the surgeon who was talking in German. She asked a surgeon who was operating in a nearby theatre to view the situation and he give advice before returning to his own patient. As it was clear that the locum was still struggling after an hour the Theatre Nurse called for more help and a new orthopaedic surgeon followed by a vascular surgeon took over.
5. Mrs Dickinson required blood transfusions but surprisingly survived that night and lived for a further 8 weeks before her death. Professor Wallace explained that in his view the negligent operation contributed to her death.
6. Dr Werner Kolb was recruited as a locum by Grantham Hospital via the Athona recruitment agency. The hospital alleges that it did not cooperate with its investigation.
7. Dr Kolb was on the GMC Specialist register but was suspended in June 2009 following a referral by Professor Wallace in April 2009 The hospital referred Dr Kolb to the GMC in May 2009 only after the GMC contacted it as a result of Professor Wallace’s complaint.
8. Ena’s daughter recalls her mother as a generous and caring person who was a great supporter to her local community through organisations such as Help the Aged and the Red Cross Society. She was a WAAF during the Second World War working as a courier and staff car driver. As well as Beaverbrook she drove Sir Denis Wrangham a lot of the time but her passengers also included David Niven and Noel Coward.
For further information, please contact:
Paul Balen
Freeth Cartwright LLP
Cumberland Court, 80 Mount Street
Nottingham NG1 6HH
Tel: 0115 936 9388
(m) 07767673200
Email: paul.balen@freethcartwright.co.uk