Surgeons accused of racism, bullying and toxic power struggle

Surgeons at a top NHS trust were embroiled in allegations of racism, sexism, homophobia and bullying that created a “toxic” culture and harmed patient care, according to a secret report.

Consultants responsible for treating thousands of facial trauma patients at Barts Health NHS Trust in London have accused each other of poor surgery, causing avoidable complications and negligence. They say three patients went blind and others needed repair surgery.

The surgeons’ relationships have deteriorated since 2017 amid “a constant fight for power and control of the unit”. At least seven patients, who had been waiting for operations for between three and five years, had their procedures cancelled after two doctors refused to work together.

The trust admitted that no action had been taken against any of the surgeons and it only informed the Care Quality Commission about the report and its findings on Friday morning, after The Sunday Times made inquiries. The trust said it had found no evidence of patient harm and believed the service was safe.

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Source: The Times, 3 February 2025