Recalled patients left in shock as hospital contacts them over surgery concerns by now deregistered surgeon
A patient at Spire Washington Hospital said she is shocked and gutted after being told a surgeon at the hospital who carried out 30 operations on her is having his procedures investigated due to concerns about the surgeries he carried out.
The hospital has confirmed that it has also contacted other patients who were operated on by Dr Leslie Irwin to review the procedures he carried out.
The patient, now in her 40s, had 30 procedures over the course of 20 years by Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who practised at Spire Washington Hospital. These were mainly on her wrist, but also included some procedures on her hip and shoulder, even though, according to the patient’s lawyers Slater and Gordon, Mr Irwin is a specialist wrist and arm surgeon.
Having been operated on so many times, and over the space of two decades, the patient described the deep trust she had in Mr Irwin and said she was “shocked and absolutely gutted” when she was unexpectedly contacted by Spire Washington Hospital who revealed concerns over her surgeries.
The woman said she has since been told that if she did not undergo further surgery, her whole arm was at risk of collapsing.
Independent medical evidence obtained by her lawyers has stated that the woman underwent “numerous unnecessary and poorly performed surgeries”.
After being contacted by the hospital the patient said: “I had absolutely no reason to suspect anything was wrong.
“I totally trusted Mr Irwin. I had seen him many times over a 20-year period so came to know him well. He used to say ‘you’ve been my patient for so long, we’re growing old together’.
“I never doubted anything I was told. I had no reason to as I didn’t know anything different.
“I felt like I was in completely safe hands. Now, knowing what I do, I’m absolutely gutted.
“When the Spire contacted me to tell me they had some difficult news to tell me about Mr Irwin, I honestly thought they were about to tell me that there was some bad news about him personally, given how well I had come to know him over two decades, and how often I had seen him.
“But the reality of what I was told, and what I have subsequently found out, has genuinely been the most shocking and utterly devastating thing I could ever have imagined. Through everything that has happened, my life has been significantly impacted for nothing.”
After being contacted by the Sunderland Echo, chiefs at Spire Washington Hospital confirmed Mr Irwin had practised at the hospital between 2001 and 2023.
They confirmed he was suspended in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024 - though they did not specify the reasons why.
Slater and Gordon said Mr Irwin has also de-registered himself with the General Medical Council (GMC).
Spire Healthcare, of which the hospital is part, confirmed that in the summer of 2025 they started a review of specific procedures that were provided to a select cohort of patients of Mr Irwin.
A spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing specific procedures that were provided to a select cohort of patients of Mr Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who previously practised at Spire Washington Hospital.
“We are in direct contact with all relevant patients to review their care and offer support. The review is being run in accordance with NHS England’s National Quality Board: Recall Framework, which Spire Healthcare helped to develop.
“If any Spire Washington patients have questions about the care provided by Mr Irwin, they can call 0191 720 3031 or email [email protected] and a member of the dedicated review team will call them back.”
Clinical negligence specialists at law firm Slater and Gordon are supporting a number of clients who have undergone surgery by Mr Irwin, including the aforementioned patient.
Company lawyer Jodie Cook said: “Clearly this is extremely worrying for patients of Mr Irwin, with Spire Washington Hospital proactively highlighting their concerns around his work over an unknown time period – for our clients, and particularly our client who has been brave enough to share her ordeal.
“The impact has been absolutely devastating.
“We would urge anyone who has been under the care of Mr Irwin, who has concerns around the care they received, to get in touch as a matter of urgency.”
Slater and Gordon are holding a free online legal clinic on Tuesday, January 20, for anyone with concerns over the care they received from Mr Irwin. For more information or to book a place, contact [email protected]