Switalskis Director and Solicitor Chris Gresswell-Green has called on the General Medical Council (GMC) to launch an urgent investigation into serious safety concerns surrounding treatment provided by consultant Marc Lamah at the Royal Sussex Hospital.

The call follows distressing reports from a significant number of patients, some of whom are now being represented by Chris and members of our specialist medical negligence team.

Chris has written to the GMC after learning that patients of Mr Lamah were shocked to discover he had been banned from practising by private health provider Nuffield Health over patient safety concerns, yet was still permitted to treat NHS patients at the Royal Sussex Hospital, part of the University Hospitals Sussex Foundation Trust.

The Trust is currently under investigation by police through Operation Bramber, which is examining dozens of potential negligence cases and may involve as many as 200 patients across its seven hospitals. Earlier this year, the Trust was also named as one of 14 to be included in a nationwide review into patient safety and standards of care.

These developments have caused considerable anxiety and upset for our clients and other patients who were treated by Mr Lamah, particularly following BBC reports suggesting that a third of his patients experienced a moderate harm event.

In his letter to the GMC on behalf of affected patients, Chris has asked the regulator to urgently seek answers to four key questions:

Why did the University Hospitals Sussex Foundation Trust continue to allow Mr Lamah to practise despite the reported high number of moderate harm events?

When did the Trust become aware that Nuffield Health had withdrawn Mr Lamah’s practising privileges due to safety concerns?

Given Nuffield Health’s public statement that Mr Lamah’s conduct “did not meet the standards of medical practice and governance we expect”, why did the Trust not take equivalent action regarding his NHS patients?

What is the length and scope of Mr Lamah’s current suspension from practising within the Trust and the wider NHS, and will this suspension be made permanent?

Chris said:

“We understand that Mr Lamah has now been removed from treating patients by the Trust. However, this action will have come too late to protect those patients whom he continued to treat after Nuffield Health’s decision to remove his practising privileges – a decision of which the Trust’s management must have been aware.

"We welcome the government’s decision to examine the care at the Trust’s hospitals, including the Royal Sussex. But our clients and others affected deserve answers as to why Mr Lamah was allowed to continue practising within the NHS.

"There are many questions for the Trust and the wider NHS to answer. We believe the GMC should investigate this urgently. A robust investigation would send a clear message that poor conduct cannot be tolerated, and that patient safety must always come first.”

Chris is currently working with former patient Mike Dicks, who exercised his right to choose and declined treatment from Mr Lamah. Mike will soon launch a podcast sharing his experience to help others understand their rights, including the right to choose their surgeon and the hospital where they receive treatment.

How Switalskis can help

If you or a loved one received treatment from Marc Lamah at the Royal Sussex Hospital and believe your care was negligent, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

At Switalskis, our specialist medical negligence solicitors understand the negative impact of negligent colorectal surgery. We provide compassionate support and clear legal advice to help you get answers, accountability, and the financial support you need for your future.