Patients of disgraced surgeon call reports a ‘whitewash’

Dean Stalham’s daughter, Bunty, was born with a rare bone disease called neurofibromatosis. Over a 15-month period, Bunty underwent a number of operations which all failed, leaving her in agony and taking strong pain relief for months.

In Bunty’s report, the physical impact on her was deemed “moderate” – but her father says it is “simply wrong”.

“It says she had six procedures. I can count 10,” Mr Stalham says.

“Not a single one of Bunty’s surgeries worked, and none of them were of any benefit to her whatsoever. When they were trying to lengthen her leg they ended up shortening it by about eight inches.”

Other parents are angry the reports graded their child’s psychological harm as “none” or “mild”.

“How can it say she has no psychological harm when they haven’t even spoken to the child?” Claire Osborne says of her daughter, Ella.

Ella has Shwachman Diamond Syndrome II, causing her knees to bend inwards and causing severe pain.

Ella was referred for psychological support in 2022, after a failed operation to realign her knees was carried out by Mr Jabbar.

“She cried herself to sleep each night,” her mother says. “She was in a wheelchair and constant agony for years. She has nervous ticks now. She didn’t have them before Jabbar.”