A TV doctor who worked at Heartlands and Solihull Hospital has resigned after an investigation was launched into his treatment of around 170 prostate cancer patients.
Arackal Narayan Manu Nair was suspended by the Heart of England NHS Trust in April 2014 after concerns were raised about his practices by colleagues.
The consultant urologist had previously appeared on Channel Four’s Embarrassing Bodies.
He had previously worked at Spire hospitals in Little Aston and Solihull, where shamed breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson had also worked.
Mr Nair has now resigned from the Trust as his conduct is being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC).
The watchdog has issued practicing limitations on his licence until May 2016, which include prohibiting him from working as a locum doctor, working in private practice, and working without a consultant supervisor.
The GMC added he must not carry out laparoscopic prostatectomies surgery - where the prostate is removed - or procedures ‘involving Green Light Laser’.
The Heart of England Trust requested a review into Mr Nair’s treatment by the Royal College of Surgeons, following concerns about his surgery practices.
The review later recommended that his patients who had undergone a radical prostatectomy should be checked as a precaution.
Dr Andrew Catto, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO, said: “Following concerns regarding the clinical practice of consultant urologist Mr Arackal Manu Nair, the trust, working with its independent sector partners Spire Parkway and BMI The Priory, requested a team from the Royal College of Surgeons to review Mr Manu Nair’s surgical practices in the NHS and independent sector.
“Mr Manu Nair was suspended from practising at the trust while the review took place and was referred to the General Medical Council who imposed conditions upon his registration. He has subsequently resigned from his post.
“Each of the 170 radical prostatectomy patients, who may have been affected, were contacted directly by the Trust to protect their privacy. The majority of this group of patients had already been seen again as part of their regular follow-up treatment which would have included a blood test used an indicator of a recurrence.
“In line with the changes made as a result of the Kennedy Review, all affected patients were offered the opportunity to meet with an independent consultant to discuss their concerns and on-going care, and a clinical nurse specialist was available for patients to talk to. All of these clinics were completed by July 2015. Most of the patients took up this opportunity and were able to discuss their treatment from the point of diagnosis to the care they are receiving today.
“We would like to unreservedly apologise for any distress this has caused.
“We recognise that this is a worrying time for patients who have been treated by Mr Manu Nair and we continue to do everything possible to ensure that both patients and their families have the help and support they need.”
Meanwhile Spire Hospital said it recalled any relevant patients treated by Mr Nair, and apologised for an uncertainty caused by the review.
Spokesman Dr JJ de Gorter, Group Medical Director at Spire Healthcare said: “The review request followed the implementation of a new, enhanced system for governing the practice of consultants practising within Parkway Spire Hospital.
“Spire worked with the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and BMI Healthcare, to review Mr Nair.
“The review has now been completed as well as a recall of all relevant patients treated by Mr Nair. We will be sharing the findings and conclusions with HEFT and the General Medical Council.
“Mr Nair has not practised at Spire Parkway and Little Aston Hospitals since April 2014.
“We are sorry for the uncertainty that this may cause some patients. We can confirm that those who were deemed to require review have already been seen and assessed.”
Many concerned patients have already sought legal advice following the revelations, in light of the ongoing case of shamed cancer surgeon Ian Paterson ,a former breast surgeon at Solihull Hospital and Spire.
The cases have apparent similarities, where multi-disciplinary team meetings allegedly failed to take place following surgery
.
Kashmir Uppal, a clinical negligence expert at Thompson’s Solicitors, explained that the firm had been contacted by around a dozen of Nair’s patients who had been recalled.
She told the Mail: “From a patient’s perspective it is concerning that the Trust is again having issues with another one of its surgeons concerning consent, communication, and its systems of safety to protect the well being of the patient.”
Any Solihull Hospital patients who have further concerns about their treatment are ask to call 0121 424 0808 to talk to the patient services team.
