Leicester Royal Infirmary pay £7m in damages to cancer patients

Leicester Royal Infirmary has resolved £7m in compensation for cancer patients who experienced surgical harm.

The maxillofacial surgery service at Leicester Royal Infirmary faced suspension from November 2016 to 2018 following safety concerns raised by dental trainees in a review by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Some patients experienced difficulties eating, swallowing, and speaking after the operations.

Concerns raised included issues with consent processes and doubts about the appropriateness of procedures for patients’ conditions.

According to figures released by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) after a Freedom of Information request, 41 cases involving cancer patients who underwent surgery between 2009 and 2016 have been settled, resulting in nearly £7m in damages.

The trust’s total payout, including legal expenses, amounted to £8.49m to settle these claims.