Gransnet forums

News & politics

Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba wins appeal against being struck off

(41 Posts)
merlotgran Tue 14-Aug-18 12:22:38

That poor doctor was failed at every turn. DH nearly died from sepsis in May. He was in hospital for a month with a team of doctors treating him. Every possible test was available and the positive outcome was a huge relief to all.

I can't imagine being with a relative in a hospital where the general feeling is of lack of support, system failures and indecision. I can understand the mother's anguish but I do hope the doctor will be able to overcome this experience and regain her confidence.

janeainsworth Tue 14-Aug-18 11:38:14

I for one wouldn't want to be seen by this doctor either for myself or a child

What happened to Dr Bawa-Garba that day could have happened to scores of junior doctors, goldengirl.
It has been noted on several occasions that prior to, and ever since, Jack’s death, she has had an unblemished record.

I would be happy to be treated by her, and to have my DGCs treated by her too. Senior doctors who have worked with her have said the same thing.
I hope she feels able to resume practice, but fear that like Adam Kay she will be too traumatised by her experiences to carry on.

goldengirl Tue 14-Aug-18 11:03:32

It's a difficult one. I for one wouldn't want to be seen by this doctor either for myself or a child having just gone through a recent complaint which, in all fairness, resulted in the Dr receiving further training. It is, I agree, the system that is at fault and the pressure that doctors are under and the fact that everyone makes mistakes at some point. Unfortunately the mistakes made by a doctor can be devastating. The NHS really does need a proper revamp to cope with the situations it is faced with today.

Blinko Tue 14-Aug-18 10:44:54

I saw the Panorama programme. I was impressed by her honesty and demeanour as well as her courage in contributing to it. Before I saw the programme, I admit to being swayed by the mother's very understandable distress. On seeing the programme, I feel the correct outcome was obtained in the end. Poor family, poor doctor Bawa Garba.

We should be concerned at the state the nhs is in.

M0nica Tue 14-Aug-18 10:36:45

I didn't see the tv program but have read enough about it to consider that the lifetime ban on practicing as a doctor as the result of this very sad incident, was far too draconian.

While the doctor made errors, so many were made by the hospital and the absent consultant that I think the original decision to ban her from practicing for a year was sufficient. A lifetime ban was outrageous.

janeainsworth Tue 14-Aug-18 10:25:37

oldMeg? I do. And I cannot help wondering how many junior doctors (and nurses) will decide it’s time for a career move awayfrom the NHS.

OldMeg Tue 14-Aug-18 10:10:44

Jane had you seen the programme and listened to her you would have felt such sympathy. She broke down and had a little weep at one time, not when talking about her ordeal but when talking about Jack.

janeainsworth Tue 14-Aug-18 09:22:08

Crossed posts OldMeg

janeainsworth Tue 14-Aug-18 09:20:44

I didn’t see the programme but read this and weep
www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_struck_off_doctor
Possibly the most sickening thing, apart from the way the prosecution used Dr Baba-Garwa’s reflective log (where she had written down everything she felt she could have done differently) to place the blame squarely on her and away from the system failures within the hospital, which included very low staffing levels, delays in receiving the results of blood tests, and a computer failure which meant that records couldn’t be accessed, was the role of the consultant who should have been there, caring for patients and supporting his junior staff, but had ‘double-booked’ himself and was miles away in Warwick supposedly teaching.
And a few months after Jack Adcock’s death, he moved back to Ireland and wouldn’t contribute to the Panorama programme. What a surprise!

OldMeg Tue 14-Aug-18 09:19:11

I was her first day back after maternity leave. There was no consultant available that night - I think he too had been double booked. She was in charge of several wards and the computer system failed that ought to have flagged up a dangerous condition.

She has always admitted she made mistakes. Never tried to deny that. But I was impressed with her honesty and how she actually came on the programme to discuss the intricacies of the case.

Not all the mistakes were hers. Someone told the mother that she could administer one of her boy’s regular medication herself which ought not to have been given under the circumstances.

Basically she failed to diagnose sepsis. The child presented with sickness and diarrhoea. Apparently 14,00 people die from sepsis every year in the UK. So it looks as if there is serious under-diagnosing of this condition,

BlueBelle Tue 14-Aug-18 08:38:41

Mrsmopp I was just poised to write the exact words you wrote
Doctors are far from infallible, mistakes are made We somehow think that doctors can cure everything and the fact is they can’t I don’t think any of us can understand the pressure the long hours and the lack of back up involved
I might be wrong but I m sure I read or heard where this lady was that day responsible for a number of different wards
I too can feel for this family but the little boy was seriously ill with sepsis and a cardiac arrest we know how fast sepsis can kill

Luckygirl Tue 14-Aug-18 08:38:15

It is an acknowledgement that the overstretched system must carry some of the blame.

sodapop Tue 14-Aug-18 08:34:36

I didn't see the Panorama programme but agree it was right to reinstate her with checks in place hopefully. I am so tired of hearing that statement ' lessons will be learned ' then nothing changes. There is far too much expected of junior doctors and nurses at present.
I too feel so sorry so for the family of the little boy.

mcem Tue 14-Aug-18 08:25:01

Poor, poor mother but the right decision to reinstate.
There are lots of discussions about learning lessons from this sad case but surely one important one is that the NHS cannot continue to function when staff are so overstretched!

mrsmopp Tue 14-Aug-18 08:07:41

It was right to reinstate her. If they got rid of every doctor who made a mistake, we'd have no NHS. I can understand the mothers grief though, and feel desperately sorry for her.

OldMeg Tue 14-Aug-18 08:03:20

Did anyone see the excellent Panorama programme about this case last night (Monday) ?