Call for inquiry into surgeons

The hospitals are investigating

A group of 50 women are demanding an independent probe into the work of two gynaecologists at hospitals in Hertfordshire.

One has been suspended by West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust, which runs hospitals in St Albans and Hemel Hempstead, while the other is on sick leave.

The patients contacted a helpline set up Anastasia Insley, who had a hysterectomy at a private hospital in Harpenden in 1997.

Anastasia Insley set up the helpline

She has already made a separate complaint to the GMC about gynaecological surgeon Lennox Kane.

Many of the women who contacted the helpline had been operated on by Mr Kane or his colleague David Rosenberg.

Mrs Insley told the BBC: "Each person knows they are not alone, as I did myself.

"When they realise there are other people involved, it gives them confidence to come forward."

Bladder problems

One woman who rang in was Anne Pitt, who told the BBC: "I was in hospital for two weeks instead of five days. I still have problems with my bladder."

Anne Pitt felt she was damaged by the operation

The trust has said that many of the complaints against Mr Kane may relate to complications encountered by any competent surgeon.

However, it has suspended Mr Rosenberg from operating while a fuller investigation is carried out.

A spokesman for the trust said: "There have been a small number of complaints against Lennox Kane, but no more than would be expected for a consultant in busy clinical practice.

"David Rosenberg has been suspended for further investigations and I would not pre-judge what these findings will be."