For the past few months ‘The Royal Sussex County Hospital’ has consistently shown up in the news for medical negligence and malpractice incidents.
Several of the negligence news reports we have covered have related to an ongoing investigation labelled ‘Operation Bramber’.
Operation Bramber was launched in June 2023, investigating the deaths of patients, serious patient harm and allegations of medical negligence relating to neurosurgery and general surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital between 2015 and 2021.
A report released by The Guardian in June 2023 stated that Sussex police were investigating around 40 deaths (this number may have increased since this report was released).
In this same report, an insider spoke about how some of the surgeons remained a danger to the public and said…
“You would not want your family members touched by these people.”
“This is not a historic issue, it is ongoing. The same surgeons that were involved in previous problems remain in place.”
The insider cited a woman who lost the power of speech in April after an alleged mistake in surgery to remove a brain tumour led to a stroke, and a man who was left with a brain abscess in May after being operated on despite a heightened risk of infection.
Originally, Operation Bramber’s timeline was 2015-2020. However, there were calls to extend the timeline due to ongoing issues and Sussex police did confirm that they extended their investigation to 2021.
Lewis Chilcott’s case-
Lewis Chilcott’s case is under review by the Sussex police and we have collected some information from the Guardians’ report on this below.
Lewis was just 23 when he died in 2021. This was after an alleged error was made in a tracheostomy which led to an infection, resulting in a fatal arterial haemorrhage. A coroner concluded that his death was caused by a rare complication of the procedure. A review made by the Royal College of Surgeons found that it was likely the low position of the inserted tube which caused fatal damage.
Chilcott’s father, Simon has spoken to the police and he said he believed he was ignored for 10 weeks when he first raised questions about his son’s death. He said that the hospital ultimately agreed to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident. Currently, the report is undergoing its fifth revision following the discovery of several factual inaccuracies by the Chilcott family.
His father’s complaint said: “Throughout the numerous serious investigation reports, information has been inadequate, incorrect, missing, watered down and only corrected when I have raised the issues regarding incorrect information. Which in turn raises my suspicions of openness and transparency.”
The Sussex police have continued their investigation into Lewis Chilcott’s case and the above is the most updated report we can find on this.
From the same report by The Guardian, they also spoke about Jugal Sharma’s case.
A Sussex police detective from the safeguarding investigation unit has visited Jugal Sharma’s family.
Jugal, 63, suffered severe disability in April 2020 after being misdiagnosed with a grade 4 tumour requiring immediate surgery, resulting in a stroke during the operation.
The tumour was later revealed to be a less serious grade 2 cancer.
In a further development, consultant neurosurgeon Mansoor Foroughi reported alleged surgical errors in a 70-page document, leading to his dismissal for whistleblowing, which he is appealing.
Sharma’s family, seeking answers, requested a morbidity and mortality review of his care, yet to be provided. Concerns also arise regarding the frequency of strokes during such surgeries.
The family were recently queried by the reviewing police officer about the response to their request. Audrey, Jugal’s wife, expressed frustration, questioning why Jugal underwent surgery for a grade 2 tumour, resulting in severe disability.
The series of medical negligence incidents at The Royal Sussex County Hospital, highlighted through Operation Bramber, have raised significant concerns over patient safety and accountability within the institution.
Sussex police’s extended investigation into cases like Lewis Chilcott’s underscores the severity of these issues and the need for thorough scrutiny. Chilcott’s tragic death, compounded by alleged errors and subsequent investigative challenges, epitomises the struggle for transparency and justice faced by affected families.
Similarly, Jugal Sharma’s case exposes the devastating consequences of misdiagnosis and surgical errors, compounded by institutional failures to address concerns and provide adequate explanations.
These cases underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms, emphasising patient welfare, rigorous oversight, and accountability measures to prevent further harm and restore trust in healthcare institutions.
While the investigations are still ongoing and the operation is recent, there hasn’t been extensive media coverage on specific cases. However, we’re dedicated to keeping you informed. Stay updated with our industry news updates for any further information on these cases and more in the coming months.
See the original report here
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