What to do if your child has been affected by misconduct at Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Paediatric Surgeon, Kuldeep Stohr, was suspended from practice from Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge last month. In this article, Kim Huggins and Georgia Gammons explore the case to date and suggests next steps for families that may have been affected by substandard care.
What did the independent investigation uncover?
Ms Kuldeep Stohr, a Consultant Orthopaedic Consultant specialising in paediatric surgery at Addenbrookes Hospital, has been suspended after an external review found issues with her surgical practices, which fell “below expected standards”. Both an external clinical review and independent investigation into the standard of operations performed by Ms Stohr at Addenbrooke’s Hospital between 2015 and 2024 are underway. As a result, many families are set to explore their legal options regarding how to claim for medical negligence.
How were patients impacted?
These issues involve approximately 698 children, with complaints dating as far back as 2015. The review did not suggest that any of the outcomes were life threatening but for some individuals, this experience has impacted on their quality of life.[1] Where harm has been identified, patients have been written to.
Examples include a 12-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was left in agony following substandard surgery on her hip joints performed by Ms Stohr; and a 7-year-old boy left in constant pain after being told by Ms Stohr to ‘leave it in the hands of God’. In a third case, a child injured in a car accident was left with a broken arm for 11 days, due to a failure to identify it.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), the Trust that oversees Addenbrookes Hospital, has ‘apologised unreservedly’ to those who are affected and has announced the current reviews will examine approximately 700 patients, including 100 emergency trauma cases.
The Trust has appointed Andrew Kennedy KC to chair a panel of expert clinicians that will undertake the external clinical review, which is expected to take 12 months to complete.
Concerns had initially been raised in 2015, with an investigation and report being commissioned in 2016, but subsequent ‘anxieties’ highlighted in the 2016 report seemingly went ignored and staff at CUH were wrongly told that there were no issues, despite the 2016 report identifying ‘technical issues’ with the surgeries of multiple patients.[2].
The 2016 report stated that Ms Stohr did not always order CT scans after operations took place, a concern also highlighted in the 2025 report and described as ‘inexplicable and not the standard of care’.
An initial review, completed in January 2025, identified that the outcomes of treatment provided to 9 children at that point, were below the standard expected. Following this, a further external review was arranged to look into all the planned surgical operations carried out. Early indications suggest that there were cases when technical issues arose during surgery where the presence of a consultant colleague may have been helpful, but Ms Stohr frequently operated on her own or with more junior members of staff.
I think my child may have received substandard care. What do I do next?
If harm caused to a patient during an operation was not a risk of the procedure, but arose as an error on behalf of the surgeon performing the operation, then it is possible that you may have a claim. If you think you might have a general surgery claim or a claim for substandard care TSP can help. It can be an overwhelming and frightening time, but there are some helpful reminders to consider when choosing a medical negligence solicitor.
How can Thompson Smith and Puxon help me?
Our Clinical Negligence team are currently supporting some the children and families of those who have been affected as a result of Ms Stohr’s practice.TSP’s expert team of clinical negligence solicitors are here to listen, understand and provide tailored advice regarding any potential negligent treatment you or a loved one may have had, delivering advice with care and compassion.
During an initial telephone call, our specialist team will take some details and discuss the next steps with you, providing a clear and honest opinion on your chances of a successful claim.
Pursuing a claim has many benefits for the patients and families of those impacted by cases like this one. Compensation can help patients access support in living a life impacted by disability. It can present a chance to obtain justice and to protect others from facing the same experiences.
If you or your child have been affected by an operation, care or treatment carried out by Ms Stohr/Addenbrookes Hospital, and you would like some advice, please call 01206 574431 or email enquiries@tsplegal.com.
[1] https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/news/statement-from-cuh-chief-executive-roland-sinker/
[2] https://news.sky.com/story/cambridge-hospital-accused-of-covering-up-concerns-about-suspended-surgeon-a-decade-ago-13364273