Surgeon suspended after reporting trust

THE HOSPITAL specialist who repaired a baby's circumcision his parents claim was botched by a private clinic has been suspended from his job, it emerged today.

Paediatric surgeon Shiban Ahmed was sent home by his bosses at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and although no reasons have been given, the move came after he reported the trust to the Healthcare Commission.

He had told the NHS regulator of his concerns over how the hospital had handled the case of Naveed Akram, now 18 months, below, and three other boys who needed NHS treatment when their paid-for religious circumcisions went wrong.

And parents Faiqa and Nadeem, both 39, of Knight Street, Tunstall, are refusing to take their son back to the Hartshill complex until the consultant is re-instated.

It has also come to light that another consultant at the trust is supporting Mr Ahmed's fight to get his job back.

Mrs Akram, a Briton who married into a Muslim family, is taking legal action against GP Dr Munir Butt who received £80 for carrying out the circumcision at his private clinic above a travel agents in Rusholme, Manchester.

She has also complained about him to the General Medical Council and the ordeal has prompted her to launch a campaign to have the procedure provided on the NHS when done for religious reasons.

She said: "Mr Ahmed said he was shocked at the state of Naveed and performed day surgery to correct the damage. He has been wonderful for Naveed and I was shocked when I found he had been suspended.

"Mr Ahmed says Naveed needs more treatment and he still hasn't been circumcised but I'm not allowing that until he has been re-instated."

When The Sentinel asked about his suspension, Dr Ahmed said: "I am not in a position to discuss this matter with you at the moment but, like Mrs Akram, I have great concerns about complications that her son and other children suffered."

Although the University Hospital would neither confirm or deny Mr Ahmed's suspension, a letter from a medical colleague to Mrs Akran last week confirms the trust's action.

In it the consultant, whom The Sentinel is not identifying, said: "As I think you are aware, Mr Ahmed is currently suspended, but the reason for this is not entirely clear."

He added: "There seems a perception that Mr Ahmed is causing the concerns to be raised and that this in some way serves his own interest.

"I believe that he is answering both his conscience and professional duty, possibly at some significant personal cost."

Asked about the suspension, a University Hospital spokesman said: "We are unable to comment on your inquiry."

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