The Royal College of Surgeons has raised concerns regarding the performance of gall bladder removal surgeries by a non-surgeon at Walsall Manor Hospital.
Surgical Care Practitioners (SCPs), typically assisting during procedures, are believed to have conducted 175 laparoscopic cholecystectomies over a four-year period, prompting alarm.
The College has emphasised that SCPs should not independently undertake such surgeries, citing significant safety risks and potential issues surrounding consent and medical negligence litigation. It contends that the current framework for SCPs does not encompass performing these operations, potentially impeding the training of aspiring surgeons according to BBC News.
Professor Shafi Ahmed, Chief of Surgery at the Royal London Hospital, has expressed serious concerns, stating that the practice is unsafe and should cease immediately.
He said, ‘Laparascopic cholecystectomy is a major operation with significant major potential complications, including mortality. Even as consultants there is a great deal of scrutiny on the number of cases and the complication rates.’
In response to inquiries regarding consent and medical negligence insurance, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust did not provide specific answers.
The situation underscores the importance of adhering to established surgical protocols and prioritising patient safety. The implications extend beyond immediate patient care to broader questions about medical training standards.
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