Helpline for patients of doctor facing 75 misconduct charges

A DOCTOR facing 75 charges of misconduct was allowed to continue working for five years after concerns were first raised about his work.

Now, it has emerged the East Kent Hospitals Trust has paid out more than £650,000 in out-of-court settlements to former patients of Dr David Jackson.

The trust has also launched a helpline for worried patients who were treated by Dr Jackson, and their relatives.

The surgeon, who worked at various hospitals in Kent, is facing 75 charges by the General Medical Council relating to 16 patients.The hearing has been repeatedly delayed due to Dr Jackson's ill health.

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Concerns were first raised about Dr Jackson in 2002 and his case was referred to the GMC in 2004 – but he was not dismissed by the trust, until 2007.

This left him free to continue working at hospitals including the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, where his patients included Jill Phillips from Whitstable.

The mum-of-eight had been diagnosed with colon cancer and needed a procedure to remove a large part of her bowel, but Dr Jackson only took away one malignant growth and the cancer spread.

Mrs Phillips died on the operating table in September 2006 as surgeons attempted to repair her bowel, which had become infected and burst. She was 68.

In December last year, coroner Rebecca Cobb ruled in a narrative verdict that a series of failures by the East Kent Hospitals Trust amounted to neglect.

The trust has since apologised, and insisted safeguards had been put in place.

A spokesman said: "East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust would like to offer a sincere apology to any patient or relative who feels they have received treatment that has fallen below our very high standards of care.

"We have reviewed our procedures for monitoring performance, including strengthening our multi-disciplinary review of patient treatment plans."

If you are a concerned former patient of Dr David Jackson, call the trust's helpline on 01233 616615, and get in touch with the newsroom on 01843 578150.