“My Child Will Never Walk Again after Failed Surgery”: A Devastating Case of Failed Surgery and Missed Warnings

A heartbreaking story has emerged from Cambridgeshire, where a mother is demanding ‘accountability’ after her daughter was left permanently disabled following two failed surgeries at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Natasha’s daughter, Neave, was born with positional talipes, a condition causing her feet to turn inward. Despite this, Neave was an active child who could walk, dance, and play. But in 2018, at age 11, she underwent surgery intended to improve her mobility. Instead, it marked the beginning of irreversible harm.

“My daughter walked into Addenbrooke’s talking, and she was wheeled out non-verbal,”

“That was probably the last time she walked and called me mum,” Natasha said of the surgery which she described as an “abject failure”.

Neave, now 18, suffers from severe complications including spinal curvature, muscle wastage, and deformed feet. The surgeries were performed by consultant surgeon Kuldeep Stohr, whose practice continued for years despite concerns raised as early as 2015.

The Verita Report ( Verita Report | CUH) commissioned by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, found multiple missed opportunities to intervene.

One of the most critical failures was the Trust’s inaction following a 2016 external review of the surgeon’s work. The trust has since apologised and promised reforms, however families like Natasha’s say the damage is already done.

Natasha criticised the report as “appalling”, adding it focused more on protecting the hospital’s reputation than answering questions or holding anyone accountable.

“[It] doesn’t really answer any questions, and it doesn’t really hold anyone to account,” she said.

“I don’t feel as if I can trust what is being said to me within that report.”

Retired lawyer Radd Seiger, representing 25 affected families, described the situation as “a rogue system,” calling for a judge-led public inquiry and leadership accountability.

Meanwhile, the Care Quality Commission was reviewing the findings to determine if regulatory action is needed.

Comment

This case highlights the devastating consequences of systemic failures when a healthcare system fails to listen, act, and protect. Neave’s story is not just about a surgery gone wrong; it’s about years of missed warnings, ignored concerns, and a lack of accountability that has left families devastated.

The Verita Report, while intended to shed light, has left many families feeling unheard and unsupported.

Real accountability must go beyond apologies and promises of reform. It must include transparency, consequences, and meaningful change.

Until that happens, families like Natasha’s will continue to carry the burden of a system that let them down.