Summary
An investigation found that a surgeon, Karen Booth, performed operations she wasn't qualified to do, which led to several deaths. Despite this, Sir Jim Mackey, the head of NHS England, supported her return to work after retraining. The Freeman Hospital plans to let her continue her career as a heart surgeon, even though many colleagues oppose this decision.
Key Facts
- Karen Booth carried out surgeries she wasn't skilled enough to perform.
- Her actions led to seven deaths and one case of avoidable harm.
- Sir Jim Mackey, head of NHS England, supports her return to surgery after retraining.
- The Freeman Hospital plans to allow her to work in the cardiac unit again.
- Some of Booth's surgical colleagues oppose her return, expressing their concerns through emails.
- Sir Jim explained that Booth hasn't been sanctioned by medical regulators or her employer's internal investigation.
- The hospital is considering having her work at another trust after retraining.
- The family of one patient, Ian Philip, who died under her care, is upset by the decision to let her resume surgery.
