- author, Joe Pike and Charlotte Rolls
- Role, BBC Newsnight
There is a 'gang culture' in an NHS neurosurgery department, a doctor has claimed before his employment tribunal.
Neurosurgeon Mansour Foroughi is one of two surgeons who claim patients were put at risk at Sussex University Hospitals, where police are investigating 105 cases of alleged medical negligence.
He was sacked for gross misconduct in 2022 and is appealing his dismissal.
The trust said it would “vigorously contest” his claims.
Four whistleblowers at the trust previously told BBC Newsnight that patients died needlessly while others were “effectively mutilated”.
They also complained about the “mafia-like” management culture.
Mansour Foroughi claims that one of his colleagues obtained approval to perform complex spinal surgery without adequate training.
He claims a second surgeon performed procedures that resulted in a “disproportionate” level of deaths.
Mr Foroughi says a third surgeon carried out a special act while on call to the NHS, which if true would be a breach of the NHS code of conduct.
Sussex University Hospitals dismissed Mr Foroughi after a disciplinary hearing upheld three allegations against him.
He claims the trust punished him for raising these safety concerns.
The trust disputed Mr Foroughi's claims in the employment tribunal, denying “that the health or safety of any patient is or is likely to be jeopardised”.
It also said it used an “experienced outside investigator” as part of the disciplinary process.
Sussex Police are separately investigating at least 105 cases of alleged medical negligence in the trust's neurosurgery and general surgery departments.
Court documents revealed “serious dysfunction in the neurosurgery department” with “blatant divisions among colleagues.”
The revelation comes after the corporation lost a nine-month legal battle with the BBC and The Times to prevent access to and redaction of documents in two cases before the Employment Court.
In the second tribunal, it was alleged that trust bosses pushed through controversial changes to consultant surgeons' tenure which reduced the number of 'safe' consultants on call and put patients at risk.
Krish Singh, former clinical director of general surgery, claimed the changes were made for “financial reasons”.
He was demoted in 2019 due to what the organization claimed were “performance and other issues.”
Mr Singh claims the decision was taken while he was on holiday.
The Foundation said in a statement: “The Foundation will vigorously challenge these claims in the labor courts, which we are keen to conduct at the earliest opportunity so that they can be properly and fairly examined.”
“Removing someone, or removing someone from a leadership role, is a last resort and we will always seek to avoid that outcome if possible.
“In both cases, due process was followed, and we are confident that we did the right things, in the right way, for the benefit, care and safety of our patients.”
The trust has previously said its main priority is providing “safe and effective care”, that the data does not reflect allegations of unnecessary deaths, and that there is no evidence of a toxic top-down culture.
Additional reporting by Emily O'Sullivan
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