A patient of Dr Christopher Ingoldby said she was

A patient of Dr Christopher Ingoldby said she was ‘appalled’ that he had been cleared of serious professional misconduct and was free to pick up the scalpel again tomorrow.

(Thurs)

Ingoldby, dubbed Dr Bungleby by some, looked relieved as committee chairman John Shaw told him: ‘We are aware that all surgery involves a degree of risk.

‘Even the most eminent practitioners experience averse outcomes from time to time.

‘The committee received evidence that there were limited resources at Pinderfields Hospital during the period in question and that these limits impacted upon the management of your patients.

‘These limits, however can never be accepted as an excuse for poor practice.

‘

Turning to the two proved allegations he said: ‘We accept that you may have genuinely believed you took a biopsy.

‘We note that you accept the criticisms about the
lack of ultrasound and or CTC scan investigation in this case and you own ready admission that a biopsy was essential.

‘

In the second case of Patient K, the chairman said: ‘She lacked full information required to give her informed consent to the operation, even though she had signed a consent form.

The chairman added practitioners must give information to patients in a way they can understand and must respect their rights to be fully involved in decisions about their care.

Mr Shaw continued: ‘Although – as is evident from the adverse finding of fact in respect of these two omissions – we regard you shortcomings as proper matters for criticism, we are clear that taken both individually and collectively they fell short of the threshold of serious profession misconduct.

‘We were encouraged to hear this morning through your council that you will implement the lessons you have learned during these losing proceeding as you return to practice.

‘

Speaking after the verdict, patient Angela Pearson, 66, from Wakefield said: ‘I am very, very disappointed.

In fact I am appalled.

I find it incredible that out of 40 allegations only 2 were proven.

‘I know the amount of evidence was sufficient, particularly in my case.

All the allegations could be proved.

‘Mr Ingoldby portrays himself as a kind, caring, competent surgeon but to us as a family he was none of those things.

‘

The consultant surgeon had been accused of gross errors which left six patients dead but he was cleared of almost all the allegations by the GMC today (THURS).

But Dr Ingoldby, 53, was found guilty of failing only three patients before, during and after operations at the Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield between 1990 and 1997.

He was originally charged with failures in relation to 12 patients.

ends

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