Waldrons Solicitors have been contacted by a number of clients who have concerns about Mr Mian Munawar Shah, Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon at Walsall Manor Hospital. Concerns have been raised about the performance of shoulder operations at the hospital in Walsall, with several people left in a worse condition as a result of surgery. In some cases, surgery (or more complex surgery) has been carried out unnecessarily highlighting surgical negligence. Other patients have been told about problems with the placement of surgical screws and pins.
Who is Mian Munawar Shah?
Mian Munawar Shah is a Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon who has worked at the Walsall Manor Hospital since 2005. He specialises in upper limb surgery, and treats NHS patients at the Walsall Manor Hospital as well as privately paying patients at the Spire Little Aston Hospital in Birmingham. Data from the National Joint Registry indicates that between 2018 and 2021 he performed more than 50 shoulder operations.
He also started a company, ‘Little Aston Oasis Limited’, for a short time back in 2017. Although the website for that company is now inactive, a snapshot of it from last year states that he was ‘pioneering needle arthroscopy as a day procedure’ and did more than 200 upper limb arthroscopies per year.
In 2021, interim conditions were placed on his doctor’s registration by the General Medical Council (GMC). Details can be found here. The conditions require Shah to have a supervising officer and to inform the GMC of any new employment positions he takes up. He has to get the permission of the GMC before undertaking any work outside of the NHS, he can’t work as a locum, and he must complete any Latarjet and shoulder arthroscopy procedures under the direct supervision of a clinical supervisor.
Why are there concerns about Mr Shah?
A number of his patients have experienced poor outcomes following surgery. The Trust have investigated the treatment provided by him and are said to be actively contacting his patients to review how they were treated and if there were any potential shoulder surgery negligence claims. Concerns have also been raised about operations being carried out unnecessarily, and in some cases complex surgery has been carried out when a simpler operation would have been more suitable. An example is the ‘Latarjet Procedure’.
What is the Latarjet Procedure?
The Latarjet procedure is a type of surgery carried out on the shoulder, and is named after a French surgeon. It is usually carried out to treat shoulder instability or recurrent shoulder dislocations. It often involves transferring the coracoid (part of the shoulder blade) with its attached muscles to the front of the glenoid (the socket portion of the shoulder joint). This provides additional bone to hold the head of the humerus (the bone in the upper arm) within the shoulder socket more securely.
What is the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust doing about accusations of Mr Shah’s surgical negligence?
The Trust is apparently in the process of contacting patients of Mr Shah to find out about the treatment provided by him. Given the length of time he’s worked at the Trust (since 2015) and the number of operations he carries out each year (more than 200 per year according to his old website), the task is a significant one and is likely to take some time.
Questions remain, however. When did the Trust find out about concerns involving Mr Shah? He had interim conditions placed on his licence to practise by the GMB back in June 2021; why has this taken more than 12 months (and counting) to start publicising? How many people are affected and what is being done to help them? We await further details.
What should I do if I was treated by Mr Shah?
If you are experiencing any problems/symptoms, the best first step will be to speak to your GP to explain the situation. You can also contact the PALS (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service) department at Walsall Manor Hospital to explain your circumstances and find out whether you’re affected. Their details can be found here. Finally, you may also want to seek legal advice in order to find out what your options are. To speak to one of our medical negligence specialists, please contact us to arrange for a free, no-obligation chat.
Click here to see the report on BBC news https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-63007107
