An Independent Review Into The Practice Of A Former Orthopaedic

An independent review into the practice of a former orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has concluded that nearly 100 children were harmed by his care, including many left with lifelong injuries, chronic pain or severe deformities.
The surgeon, Yaser Jabbar, worked at the world-famous children’s hospital in central London from 2017 to 2022 performing lower limb reconstruction and lengthening procedures on young patients some of whom were infants and toddlers.
GOSH commissioned the review after concerns were raised about his clinical practice and outcomes. It looked at 789 patients he treated, of whom 94 were found to have suffered harm linked to his care.
The findings show a troubling pattern in the outcomes of operations carried out by Jabbar, including: 36 children suffered severe harm, involving chronic pain, permanent deformities, or nerve damage for life.
39 patients experienced moderate harm, requiring further corrective treatment. In total, 94 out of 789 children reviewed were harmed by his treatment. Some families told media outlets that their children have faced significant physical and psychological consequences. In one heartbreaking case, a child eventually needed a below-knee amputation after a series of unsuccessful and painful procedures and their family said “not one operation was of benefit.”
The independent investigation, commissioned by the hospital and involving external clinical experts, found a “pattern of poor decision-making, unnecessary surgeries, and substandard care” in procedures performed by Jabbar. A hospital statement said it could not determine whether all harm was avoidable, but acknowledged that “his practice was substandard in many areas and this had undoubtedly caused harm.” GOSH’s chief executive, Matthew Shaw, issued a formal apology to affected families, saying the outcomes were “unacceptable” and that the trust deeply regrets the impact on children and their loved ones. Yaser Jabbar, aged 43, specialised in orthopaedic surgery focused on lower limb procedures.
He no longer holds a licence to practise medicine in the UK his licence was rescinded in January 2024, and he is believed to be residing abroad. Families and legal representatives have criticised the length of time it took for concerns about his work to be properly addressed. Some have spoken of a “culture of cover-up” and delays in investigating complaints. Parents of affected children have described the report’s findings as devastating, saying it confirmed what many claimed privately for years. They argue that children were subjected to unnecessary and harmful procedures and that they were not always fully informed about risks and alternatives.
Legal representatives for some families have warned that they may pursue compensation claims and have criticised aspects of how the review was conducted, saying independent reports may not fully reflect the experiences of those harmed.
Healthcare professionals and patient safety experts say the case raises broader concerns about clinical governance, oversight, and reporting systems in even highly regarded specialist hospitals.
GOSH’s full review report is expected to be presented to the hospital trust board and shared with families affected by Jabbar’s care.
The hospital says it has begun implementing patient safety improvements, training and oversight changes to prevent similar issues. Some families are considering legal action and seeking answers about how such widespread harm occurred at one of the UK’s most prestigious children’s hospitals.

An independent review into the practice of a former orthopaedic An independent review into the practice of a former orthopaedicsurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has concluded that nearly 100 children were harmed by his care, including many left with lifelong injuries, chronic pain or severe deformities.
The surgeon, Yaser Jabbar, worked at the world-famous children’s hospital in central London from 2017 to 2022 performing lower limb reconstruction and lengthening procedures on young patients some of whom were infants and toddlers.
GOSH commissioned the review after concerns were raised about his clinical practice and outcomes. It looked at 789 patients he treated, of whom 94 were found to have suffered harm linked to his care.
The findings show a troubling pattern in the outcomes of operations carried out by Jabbar, including: 36 children suffered severe harm, involving chronic pain, permanent deformities, or nerve damage for life.
39 patients experienced moderate harm, requiring further corrective treatment. 19 experienced mild harm attributable to his care.
In total, 94 out of 789 children reviewed were harmed by his treatment.
Some families told media outlets that their children have faced significant physical and psychological consequences. In one heartbreaking case, a child eventually needed a below-knee amputation after a series of unsuccessful and painful procedures and their family said “not one operation was of benefit.”
The independent investigation, commissioned by the hospital and involving external clinical experts, found a “pattern of poor decision-making, unnecessary surgeries, and substandard care” in procedures performed by Jabbar. A hospital statement said it could not determine whether all harm was avoidable, but acknowledged that “his practice was substandard in many areas and this had undoubtedly caused harm.” GOSH’s chief executive, Matthew Shaw, issued a formal apology to affected families, saying the outcomes were “unacceptable” and that the trust deeply regrets the impact on children and their loved ones. Yaser Jabbar, aged 43, specialised in orthopaedic surgery focused on lower limb procedures.
He no longer holds a licence to practise medicine in the UK his licence was rescinded in January 2024, and he is believed to be residing abroad. Families and legal representatives have criticised the length of time it took for concerns about his work to be properly addressed. Some have spoken of a “culture of cover-up” and delays in investigating complaints.
Parents of affected children have described the report’s findings as devastating, saying it confirmed what many claimed privately for years. They argue that children were subjected to unnecessary and harmful procedures and that they were not always fully informed about risks and alternatives. Legal representatives for some families have warned that they may pursue compensation claims and have criticised aspects of how the review was conducted, saying independent reports may not fully reflect the experiences of those harmed.
Healthcare professionals and patient safety experts say the case raises broader concerns about clinical governance, oversight, and reporting systems in even highly regarded specialist hospitals.
GOSH’s full review report is expected to be presented to the hospital trust board and shared with families affected by Jabbar’s care.
The hospital says it has begun implementing patient safety improvements, training and oversight changes to prevent similar issues. Some families are considering legal action and seeking answers about how such widespread harm occurred at one of the UK’s most prestigious children’s hospitals