Switalskis’ specialist medical negligence solicitors are supporting an increasing number of former patients of colorectal surgeon Marc Lamah, who are seeking answers about treatment they received under his care.

This follows reports highlighted by Switalskis last year that Mr Lamah had been prevented from working in the private healthcare sector by Nuffield Health, while continuing to practise in the NHS at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Director and specialist medical negligence solicitor Chris Gresswell-Green subsequently wrote to the General Medical Council (GMC) in October 2025 regarding ongoing safety concerns relating to treatment provided by Mr Lamah.

Since then, Switalskis has been instructed by former patients seeking answers about their care, while others have approached the team about their own experiences.

This latest development comes following the conclusion of an inquest into the death of 77-year-old Arthur Brooke Craig, who underwent surgery performed by Mr Lamah at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in 2024.

Inquest raises further questions following surgery performed by Marc Lamah

As reported by the BBC, Mr Craig underwent major surgery to remove his colon after a tumour was discovered. The inquest heard that he had initially been reluctant to undergo surgery and that Mr Lamah considered the operation offered him a good chance of survival and a chance to cure his cancer.

However, coroner Gareth Jones found that Mr Craig and his family had not been offered a defunctioning stoma – a temporary surgical opening used to divert waste away from part of the intestine – as an alternative to the major surgery. He said a second opinion should have been sought and that the less invasive treatment should have been explored.

The coroner concluded that, had Mr Craig been offered that option and chosen it, he would have been more likely to survive.

Former Marc Lamah patients seek support from Switalskis

Since Switalskis first highlighted reports surrounding Mr Lamah in July 2025, a number of former patients have contacted the medical negligence team with questions about their treatment. Switalskis is now supporting some of those patients in investigating their care.

Chris Gresswell-Green , Director and specialist clinical negligence solicitor at Switalskis, said:

“We are currently supporting a number of former patients of Marc Lamah who have approached us with concerns about the treatment they received while under the care of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for hospitals including the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Worthing Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital.

Every patient’s experience is unique, so it is important that we take the time to understand their individual circumstances and carefully investigate the concerns they have raised.

Our role is to help clients obtain the answers they are seeking. This may involve obtaining and reviewing medical records and, where appropriate, instructing independent medical experts to assess whether the care provided met an acceptable standard.

We understand how difficult it can be to be left with unanswered questions about your treatment, particularly where the outcome has been unexpected or life-changing. Our focus is on ensuring that clients feel listened to, supported and informed throughout the process, while helping them understand what happened and what options may be available to them.”

Wider scrutiny of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

The latest findings come amid continuing scrutiny of care at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Royal Sussex County Hospital, Worthing Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, St Richard’s Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital and Southlands Hospital.

During Mr Craig's inquest, Dr Stephen Drage, who was chief of surgery and critical care at the hospital at the time, also told the court that a subsequent audit found 60% of patients were receiving the required hourly fluid monitoring, while 30% were being checked every four hours and 10% did not have electronic fluid chart recordings.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust apologised for failings in Mr Craig's care and said it would respond to the coroner's findings as a matter of urgency.

Separately, Sussex Police is investigating more than 200 potentially preventable deaths and injuries at the Trust as part of Operation Bramber. The investigation is reviewing cases relating to neurosurgery and general surgery between 2015 and 2021, and the Trust is cooperating with the investigation.

University Hospitals Sussex is also one of 12 NHS trusts being examined as part of the national maternity and neonatal investigation led by Baroness Valerie Amos.

These are separate areas of investigation and scrutiny and do not establish that negligent treatment occurred in any individual patient's case. However, together they have led to wider questions being raised about patient safety and standards of care at the Trust.

Chris added:

“The wider scrutiny of the Trust understandably raises questions for patients and families who may already have concerns about the care they received.

It is important that patients feel able to raise those questions and have confidence that their concerns will be taken seriously. Where shortcomings in care are identified, there must also be an opportunity to understand what went wrong and to ensure that appropriate lessons are learned.

For the people contacting us, this is first and foremost about understanding what happened to them and whether any harm they experienced could have been avoided.”

What to do if you are concerned about treatment you received

Experiencing a complication or an unexpected outcome following surgery does not necessarily mean that medical negligence has occurred.

However, you may wish to seek advice if you have concerns about the treatment you received, whether the risks and alternative treatment options were properly explained, whether your medical history and existing conditions were appropriately taken into account, or whether any problems during or after surgery were identified and managed appropriately.

A medical negligence investigation may involve obtaining and reviewing medical records and, where appropriate, seeking evidence from independent medical experts. This can help establish whether the care provided met an acceptable standard and, if not, whether any shortcomings caused avoidable harm.

How Switalskis medical negligence experts can support you

Switalskis is supporting a number of former patients of Marc Lamah , as well as other individuals who have raised concerns about treatment received at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

If you were treated by Mr Lamah or at one of the Trust's hospitals and have questions or concerns about your care, our specialist medical negligence solicitors can discuss your experience with you in confidence.

Our team can help you understand what happened, obtain and review relevant medical records and, where appropriate, seek independent expert evidence to determine whether the care you received fell below an acceptable standard and whether this caused you harm.

If you would like to discuss your concerns, our experienced medical negligence solicitors are here to listen and help you understand your options. You can contact us by completing the form below or calling 0800 995 6068 for a free and confidential initial conversation.