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At Coodes Solicitors, we are committed to supporting medical negligence patients who have been affected by treatment provided by South West spinal orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Mervyn John Hutchinson. If you or a loved one have experienced harm due to his care, our team is here to help you obtain the answers and compensation you deserve.
Mr Hutchinson, who previously worked at North Bristol NHS Trust and Spire Bristol Hospital, faces serious allegations concerning his clinical practices. A Medical Practitioners Tribunal hearing in 2023 examined claims that he failed to provide adequate clinical care to multiple patients between 2014 and 2018. Additionally, there were allegations of incorrect coding of procedures for financial gain, leading to improper payments. As a result, the General Medical Council (GMC) imposed restrictions on his practice in 2022.
In 2019, Spire Bristol Hospital revoked Mr Hutchinson’s practising privileges and conducted an internal review, which concluded that his care had been inappropriate and harmful to patients. Similarly, North Bristol NHS Trust commissioned an external investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons, confirming that some patients experienced harm due to his treatment.
Mr Hutchinson specialised in various spinal procedures, including:
Several former patients of Mr Hutchinson have raised concerns regarding procedures such as scoliosis correction, fusion surgery and complex spinal operations. Some claim surgeries were performed at incorrect levels or were more extensive than necessary, resulting in additional pain, suffering and prolonged recovery periods.
Spire Bristol Hospital conducted an internal review of Mr Hutchinson’s patient care, leading to a number of affected individuals been written to by Spire Hospital acknowledging they had received inappropriate treatment and had suffered harm as a result.
We now understand North Bristol NHS Trust commissioned an external review by the Royal College of Surgeons, which again identified patients who suffered harm due to inappropriate treatment. The Trust has been writing to these patients to inform them of the findings.
The NHS is proactively contacting former patients who underwent surgeries performed by Mr Hutchinson. While Spire Healthcare has not publicly initiated investigations into the surgeries carried out at Spire Bristol, in December 2019 it began a precautionary patient notification exercise, alerting patients to concerns about his practice. Mr Hutchinson is no longer associated with North Bristol NHS Trust, and Spire Healthcare has withdrawn his practising privileges.
The General Medical Council (GMC) imposed interim conditions on Mr Hutchinson’s practice on 19 April 2022, requiring close supervision in all his roles. The GMC is also pursuing a formal misconduct case against him, with a hearing scheduled before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal later this year. This hearing aims to determine Mr Hutchinson’s fitness to practise and investigate allegations of inadequate clinical care provided to patients between 2014 and 2018, as well as claims of incorrect coding leading to overpayment.
We understand that the findings of these investigations or receiving a letter from one of these hospitals is going to be upsetting and alarming to Mr Hutchinson’s former patients.
If you or your loved one have been treated by John Hutchinson and have concerns about the care you received, including experiencing pain or unexpected recovery outcomes, it is crucial to contact your GP, inform them of the GMC restrictions and NHS actions and request a re-examination.
Our experienced clinical negligence team at Coodes Solicitors can support you, including providing free, no-obligation legal advice about potential orthopaedic negligence claims if you believe Mr Hutchinson’s treatment was inappropriate and/or resulted in unnecessary pain and suffering.
At Coodes Solicitors, we understand the distress and uncertainty that can arise from medical negligence. Our experienced and dedicated team is here to support you through every step of the process, ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
Call us on 0800 328 3282, or complete the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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