Heart surgeon whose failures contributed to several deaths continues to work for NHS
Heart surgeon whose failures contributed to several deaths continues to work for NHS
Seven people have died following multiple failures by a heart surgeon who continues to work for the NHS, the BBC has learned.An NHS investigation found problems in Karen Booth's cases included clinical errors, carrying out operations she wasn't skilled or experienced enough to perform and not calling for help when she should have.Serious concerns about Ms Booth's performance at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle were first raised by her colleagues in 2018 - but the hospital did not launch an investigation until 2021. Ms Booth is currently working as a mentor to other surgeons at the Freeman, which plans to allow her to resume her surgical career shortly.Karen Booth "should never [again] practise as a surgeon", said the family of one man who died after being operated on by her.The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Freeman, did not respond to most of the questions put to it by the BBC, including why it thought it appropriate to let Ms Booth resume her surgical career.The trust did however point to a problematic working culture in the cardiac unit at the time of the failures, while internal reports have criticised poor governance procedures and a reluctance from senior staff to take responsibility over safety concerns.The hospital told the BBC that the General Medical Council (GMC), the UK's regulator for doctors, is investigating Ms Booth but there are currently no restrictions on her practice.In communications with the BBC, it said that Karen Booth did not wish to provide a comment.However, Ms Booth has since told the BBC she understood that the Trust's statement would also be issued on behalf of her.She added: "I continue to express my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and who have been affected by the matters raised.
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