Patients' outrage at Ledward's defence

Ann Dowling: 'It is total arrogance'

Women left scarred by Rodney Ledward's botched operations have spoken of their outrage at his claims to be a "first class consultant".

They accused him of "total arrogance" and expressed horror at "the gall of the man".

I am totally disgusted, shocked and outraged

Ann Dowling, former patient of Rodney Ledward

Mr Ledward, the gynaecologist who was struck off by the GMC in 1998 for serious professional misconduct, told the BBC on Thursday that the profession had rid itself of a top-rate surgeon.

The Ritchie Report into his conduct over 16 years condemned him last week for his flawed performance and his attitude to patients.

But Ann Dowling, who was left incontinent after Mr Ledward perforated her bladder during a hysterectomy, told BBC News Online: "I am totally disgusted, shocked and outraged that a man of his intelligence has not a shown an ounce of remorse, compassion or even said sorry.

"But I don't even want him to say sorry anymore, it is a waste of time. He is a waste of space.

"He has been proven to be guilty. The report shows that time and time again."

She said it was no surprise that he had not admitted his mistakes.

"He is the sort of god-like image the profession has been portrayed as having. Nobody matters except them, the patients least of all.

"It is total arrogance."

Mistakes

Mr Ledward claimed in an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a comparison with other surgeons would show he had not made an unusual number of mistakes.

"If all consultants made as many mistakes as he did, why haven't all their patients come forward?" said Mrs Dowling.

"If that was the case, we would all be going across the Channel for our operations."

She urged people not to buy the book that Mr Ledward is understood to be writing.

Viven Theobald, another patient, said: "He is so very, very arrogant.

"I feel sick to my stomach about it. I want to cry my eyes out, I really do.

"He should be here saying sorry to us. It would go a long way to what I want."

Maureen Goldingay, another patient of Mr Ledward's who is still having surgery to deal with complications following treatment by him six years ago, said his comments were "daunting".

Mrs Goldingay, vice-chairman of the Ledward Support Group, said: "If everybody was like him, every patient would be having five or six operations after surgery - I don't regard that as the norm.

"I am just astounded by the gall of the man."