Marc Lamah, a colorectal surgeon at Royal Sussex County Hospital has been suspended by the private healthcare provider, Nuffield Health, following safety concerns surrounding the management of his private patients.
Mr Lamah was initially suspended in 2023 when Nuffield Health became concerned about his complication rates. A former director of clinical services at Nuffield’s Brighton hospital, where Mr Lamah operated on patients, said that data showed that one third of Mr Lamah’s patients had experienced a “moderate harm event” over a 12-month period. It is understood that this figure should have been less than 5%.
Concerns About Practices
A patient of Mr Lamah has reported that he failed to disclose to them that he had been suspended from carrying out the type of surgery she was due to undergo over concerns about the safety of Mr Lamah’s practices. He went ahead and carried out that operation, during which he damaged her bowel causing internal bleeding and requiring an emergency second operation. The patient developed sepsis and required intensive care. She has been left with a permanent stoma bag.
A former colleague of Mr Lamah’s has reported occasions when he was significantly unprofessional, including challenging himself to finish an emergency operation in 45 minutes.
Similarities to Other Colorectal Cases
We understand that Nuffield Health are carrying out an internal investigation into Mr Lamah’s management of patients at their private hospitals. This worryingly mirrors the formal investigation launched by Spire in 2019 into the treatment provided by the Bristol-based colorectal surgeon, Mr Dixon, to his private patients. Spire set up a clinical advisory group, consisting of four independent colorectal surgeons. As part of the process, Spire offered patients a consultation with one of the experts followed by a formal review of their care.
Mr Dixon’s patients had all undergone a laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR), which was described by Mr Dixon as being a simple, straightforward operation that would solve all of their problems while incurring little risk. The LVMR procedure was pioneered by Mr Dixon and involves fixing artificial mesh to lift prolapsed bowels. It is however far from risk free. Some patients have suffered severe damage to their bowel following the procedure such that they required a stoma; spent long periods of time in intensive care; experienced mesh erosion and needed complex surgery to remove the mesh; developed chronic and debilitating pain; or have been left unable to have sexual intercourse. For most, the procedure was not required: Mr Dixon wrongly and inappropriately advised the patients to go ahead.
CL Medilaw Reacts
CL Medilaw partner and expert in women’s health claims, Elise Bevan, comments as follows, “Having acted for patients in their claims against Mr Dixon, I anticipate that Nuffield Health will conduct a similar investigation and will notify individual patients should they have any concerns about the care and treatment provided to them by Mr Lamah. I understand that the issues being raised in relation to Mr Lamah’s management of patients and news of the investigation could well cause significant worry and stress. I would invite anyone who is concerned about the care they received from him as a private patient to contact us. We have an experienced team who understand the issues involved and can provide support in finding answers and where appropriate, compensation.”
How can we help?
Our team specialise in women’s health and have extensive experience in bringing claims for women who have suffered complications as a result of major surgery. We understand the life-changing consequences that can take place and we can support you with pursuing a claim for compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
If you believe you have experienced an injury as a result of vaginal mesh, contact Elise Bevan, or, alternatively, contact us through our contact form.
