Fury as surgeon ruled 'fit to practise'

A Staffordshire surgeon accused of botching breast operations on six women will be allowed to continue practising despite being found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Stafford surgeon Brian Gwynn, who worked at Rowley Hall Hospital, Stafford, and Stafford Hospital, was found guilty of misconduct in the treatment of three of his patients but medical watchdog, the General Medical Council, said he had since "remedied the deficiencies."

Mother-of-three Tracy Todd, who lived in Cannock at the time of her breast reduction surgery in September 2002, was left with open wounds and a flesh eating infection.

She told the Express & Star today: "The whole system has let me down."

Mrs Todd, who now lives in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "I am disgusted by the whole thing. How can they find him guilty of misconduct but allow him to carry on. They have not even said he has got to have extra training. It has been a total farce.

"It was not about the money, all I ever wanted was an apology but I am never going to get it."

A Fitness to Practise panel, sitting in Manchester, concluded Mr Gwynn had "insufficient skill, knowledge and experience" to perform the operation. He also did not ensure adequate post-operative monitoring.

Giving evidence Mr Gwynn said he had "reflected long and hard on the cases" and had since made "significant changes" to his practice.

The panel heard from his colleagues that he was now "meticulous" when explaining risks.

Mrs Todd successfully took legal action against Mr Gwynn which sparked 17 other complaints. Her solicitors Irwin Mitchell became so concerned over the surgeon's conduct they reported him to the GMC.

Solicitor Ally Taft said: "I am accustomed to seeing many cases in which claims arise due to one-off errors of judgement or system failures and I rarely feel the need to involve the GMC in any of my cases."

A GMC hearing in February 27 will consider whether to place a warning against his name on the medical register.