Inquest may reopen into girl who died on rogue surgeon’s table

A coroner wants to reopen an inquest into the death of a teenager who died during an operation by a disgraced NHS surgeon.

The Sunday Times exposed a report in 2022 that said the once-renowned spinal surgeon John Bradley Williamson’s “unacceptable and unjustifiable” actions contributed to the death of 17-year-old Catherine O’Connor at Salford Royal Hospital in February 2007.

Greater Manchester police has concluded an investigation and passed its findings to the Bolton coroner, Timothy Brennand, who will seek permission to reopen the inquest. The teenager’s family believe they have evidence showing Williamson misled the initial inquest.

The prime minister intervened last week to promise a meeting with ministers after MPs raised dozens of other cases of patient harm linked to the surgeon, which they say need investigating. 

More than a dozen staff at Salford Royal, once hailed as the safest hospital in England, have spoken out about what they described as Williamson’s bullying, toxic behaviour and the unsafe surgery that left many of his patients with severe complications.

A review of 130 patients treated by Williamson between 2009 and 2014 found 23 had screws misplaced in their spines; five lost excessive blood during surgery; more than 40 had problems with consent; and in 35 cases there was poor surgical practice.

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Source: The Times, 25 January 2025