Orthopaedic Consultant Suspension at Addenbrooke’s: What does this mean for patients and families?

An orthopaedic consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital has been suspended following a review that identified substandard treatment affecting nine paediatric patients.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) has since initiated a wider independent review, examining the care provided to around 800 patients. Undoubtedly, this raises challenging questions about accountability, patient safety, and potential legal options for affected families.

What happened at Addenbrooke’s Hospital?

In February 2025, CUH completed a review into the clinical practice of orthopaedic consultant, Ms Kuldeep Stohr. This review focused on treatment received by 9 children and concluded that aspects of care fell below expected clinical standards. As a result, Ms Stohr was suspended from Addenbrooke’s.

Since then, CUH has confirmed an independent review of approximately 800 patients who received treatment from the same consultant. This review is set to be led by Andrew Kennedy KC.

It has come to light that concerns about Ms Stohr’s practice were first raised much earlier, as far back as 2015, followed by a further report in 2016. Verita, a specialist investigations company, was commissioned to unearth what the known issues were and whether this review was responded to appropriately. Verita found that the outcomes for some patients cared for by Ms Stohr were below the expected standard, with 32 missed opportunities in how the Trust dealt with concerns about Ms Stohr’s practice, including poor supervision and isolated practice in small specialities. Accordingly, the Trust has implemented an action plan to prevent such malpractice in the future. The report was published on 29 October 2025 and can be found here – Verita Report | CUH

In our experience, this protracted timeline is something families often struggle with. Parents will understandably ask: Why wasn’t this addressed sooner? Or could harm have been prevented if earlier warnings had been acted upon?

These questions go to the heart of patient safety systems, escalation processes, and the duty NHS organisations owe to their patients.

What does an “independent review” involve?

An independent review is not a court process, and it does not apportion liability or award compensation.

Typically, it will involve:

• Reviewing medical records in detail
• Assessing whether care met accepted clinical standards at the time
• Identifying systemic issues
• Making recommendations for improvement.

The involvement of a King’s Counsel (senior barrister) indicates a measure of seriousness and independence. It also reassures many families that the review is not internal.

What does “substandard treatment” mean in legal terms?

In clinical negligence law within England and Wales, care is judged against what a reasonably competent clinician would have done in the same circumstances. This is sometimes referred to as the Bolam test, although the law has evolved over time.

It should be noted, however, that substandard care alone is not sufficient for a successful legal claim; there also needs to be evidence that the negligent treatment directly caused the harm which could otherwise have been avoided.

Why paediatric cases are treated differently

Cases involving children are always handled with a high level of care, both in a clinical and legal sense. Children’s bodies are still developing. So, an orthopaedic error that might resolve in an adult can have much more intrusive long-term effects for a child. From a legal perspective, limitation periods also differ. In most cases, a child will have until their 21st birthday to officially issue a claim.

What should parents or patients do now?

If your child was treated by Ms Stohr, the first step is to obtain further information on your child’s care, to understand the treatment and care provided so that concerns can be raised.

You may wish to:

• Request copies of medical records
• Keep notes of ongoing symptoms or concerns
• Engage with CUH about the scope and progress of the independent review

We often speak to families at this stage who are unsure whether something “went wrong” and consider whether their concerns are reasonable. Such uncertainty in these circumstances is completely understandable. A conversation with an experienced clinical negligence solicitor can help sense check concerns and explain their options moving forward.

Addenbrooke’s have provided a helpline for concerned families together with a dedicated email address to allow concerned families to get in touch. Addenbrooke’s helpline is 0808 175 6331 and is open between 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, offering further support to patients and families. Addenbrooke’s dedicated email address is CUH.helpline@nhs.net.

Contact our medical negligence solicitors today

If you require legal support with any issues covered in this article, please get in touch with our specialist Medical Negligence team by using our online enquiry form or by calling 0330 191 4448.