60 Women Could Sue Cornwall hospital
Fifty seven women treated by a former consultant who delivered the Prime Minister's youngest child have been recalled for clinical assessment by medical staff after an investigation into his work, an NHS hospital revealed today.
The women were among more than 1,500 gynaecological patients treated by Kenneth Robert Jones at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro over a period of two-and-a-half years, who were contacted last year when a major probe was launched into the standard of care he provided.
The chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT), which runs the unit, apologised today after the review found concerns raised by staff and patients about some of his work were not investigated quickly enough.
So far 60 women have come forward to make a compensation claim against the Royal Cornwall hospital.
Mr Jones, known as Rob, helped deliver Florence Rose Endellion Cameron by Caesarean section in August 2010 when Samantha Cameron unexpectedly went into labour while on a family holiday to Cornwall.
Mrs Cameron was not one of the women contacted by the Trust after staff and patients reported concerns about his work.
Martin Watts, the chairman of the RCHT, said: "On behalf of the Trust I wish to unreservedly apologise to those women and their families for the pain, distress and anxiety caused by the practice of former obstetric and gynaecology consultant Mr Rob Jones.
"The independent organisational learning review commissioned by the current Trust board confirms that concerns identified about some of Mr Jones' practice should have been addressed with more vigour and urgency.
"We must fully acknowledge the mistakes made - apologise and learn from them - whilst also recognising the significant progress continuing to be made by our dedicated staff to secure better and safer care for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.''
Florence Cameron was only the third child born to a serving prime minister since 1849.
In 2011, the Camerons took time out from a summer break in the county to meet and thank staff, including Mr Jones, who helped deliver their daughter at the hospital's Princess Alexandra Maternity Unit.