We’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the external review into the practice of an orthopaedic surgeon at CUH.
What has happened?
On 14 February 2025, we announced that we would be carrying out a retrospective external review into the practice of an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in paediatric surgery.
Why is this review taking place?
This followed the conclusion of an initial external review, received January 2025, which identified that the outcomes of treatment provided to nine patients were below the standard we would expect, and that they and their families are entitled to expect from us.
What action was taken against the surgeon?
As a precautionary measure in 2024, the Trust restricted the individual surgeon’s clinical practice. Following the outcome of this initial review, the surgeon was suspended and is co-operating with the Trust’s process.
What is the name of the surgeon?
Following concerns raised by colleagues, the Trust commissioned an external review into the practice of Ms Kuldeep Stohr, an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in paediatric surgery.
Has the Trust apologised?
We remain very sorry that this has happened, and we apologise unreservedly to our patients and their families.
Is there an investigation into this?
We have commissioned a further external review into a subset of the planned surgical operations carried out by the individual during their employment with the Trust. This will review the quality of care received by those patients. We have worked with Mr James Hunter, the national lead for paediatric trauma and orthopaedics to determine which surgical procedures should be part of the comprehensive clinical review.
Who is leading the external clinical review?
We have appointed Andrew Kennedy KC to chair a panel of expert clinicians that will undertake the external retrospective clinical review. Mr Kennedy KC has extensive experience in healthcare including serving on a number of public inquiries. He has a strong track record of getting the right answers for patients and families.
How many planned surgery cases will be reviewed?
The expert clinical panel will review the care of almost 700 patients who have undergone planned surgical procedures during the time the surgeon has been employed by CUH. We will be proactively contacting patients and families and prioritising them for a further clinical assessment and treatment where appropriate.
How long will the review take?
The review process is expected to take at least a year. We understand this may feel like a long time, and we want to make sure it is carried out thoroughly.
Will the findings be published?
We will publish the findings from these external clinical reviews, along with the findings from the initial external review, once they are concluded and we will continue to provide updates as the review progresses.
What is the independent investigation into missed opportunities?
We have commissioned Verita, a specialist investigations company, to carry out an independent investigation into what was known when about the practice of the individual surgeon and whether there were opportunities to have identified these issues sooner.
Were concerns raised previously?
We know that concerns were raised as early as 2015 and were the subject of an external clinical review in 2016. The 2016 review indicated concerns about the care provided to a small number of patients and made recommendations for the Trust to implement. As part of their work, we have asked Verita to investigate whether that review was acted upon appropriately and, if not, why.
How will the Trust act on the findings of the Verita investigation?
We welcome Verita’s comprehensive and rigorous approach and will implement any immediate and longer-term findings in full. We will provide further updates at the conclusion of their independent investigation.
What support is available for patients and families?
We will continue to focus on doing the right thing for patients and families. We understand the distress and anxiety that families are experiencing and we want to do everything we can to support them through this period.
Who is leading the support for families?
Our approach to supporting patients and families is being led by our Chief Nurse. We have appointed a lead of the Patient and Family Liaison Team who will ensure that we provide responsive and consistent support and communication to patients and families during this time. We will continue to listen to patients and families and we will keep adapting our approach in response to feedback.
Who should patients and their families contact?
The Patient and Family Liaison Team can be contacted by phone on 0808 175 6331, 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, or by email CUH.helpline@nhs.net and they will respond as quickly as they can.