Private provider fined after failing to disclose treatment errors

A private healthcare provider has been ordered to pay £20,000 after failing to disclose errors in the treatment of patients under the care of a surgeon.

Spire Healthcare was prosecuted today in what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said was “the first prosecution of its kind against an independent provider of healthcare”.

The CQC said concerns around the treatment of four patients were initially raised by Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, several physiotherapists at the hospital and another surgeon.

The patients had surgical procedures carried out by Michael Walsh, a shoulder surgeon who held practising privileges at Spire Leeds until his suspension in April 2018. The procedures resulted in the patients suffering prolonged pain and requiring further remedial surgery.

The CQC said it brought the prosecution after Spire failed to share details of what happened to the patients who were being treated by Mr Walsh, in line with their duty of candour responsibilities to be transparent and provide timely apologies when serious incidents occur.

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Source: HSJ, 29 April 2021