NHS surgeon suspended by the GMC now practising private cosmetic surgery

Posted: 18/03/2015

In February 2013, Roger Bainton, a 68 year old surgeon at a Staffordshire hospital, was suspended from the trust while the General Medical Council (GMC) investigated claims that he had harmed 88 patients during facial reconstruction procedures after concerned colleagues blew the whistle. Mr Bainton was already known to the GMC having been severely reprimanded by them in March 2000 after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct following the death of a patient. 

It has been revealed that the Royal Stoke University Hospital has paid £265,000 to Mr Bainton since his suspension and leaving the hospital earlier this year. The hospital has also spent £103,000 bringing in staff to do the facial surgeon’s work as well as £101,000 investigating his work and treating his patients. A total of 33 of Mr Bainton’s patients were recalled after being treated with an unproven and experimental bone substitute. A further 36 patients had jaw surgery when non-surgical measures would normally be used, while 19 people had unnecessary eye socket surgery. 

Mr Bainton set up his own private cosmetic surgery clinic, Aesthetics Aberdeen, in Scotland in 2009 from where, according to the clinic’s website, he currently “specialises in the treatment of facial trauma and their post surgical and cosmetic rehabilitation”.

Elise Bevan, a clinical negligence solicitor at Penningtons Manches LLP, said: “More than 100 people who were treated by Mr Bainton since 2007 are already taking legal action after claiming their operations were botched and we anticipate that this number will significantly increase. The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has set up a compensation fund for victims and arranged special appointments for potentially affected patients to be seen by a senior consultant surgeon. We welcome the sensible and pragmatic approach being taken by the trust.

“It is worrying to hear that Mr Bainton continues to undertake cosmetic procedures, including Botox treatments and mini facelifts, at his private clinic. An investigation into these reports is ongoing. If you have concerns about any treatment provided by Mr Bainton or for any other cosmetic surgery procedure you have had, we urge you to contact the clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches so that we can advise you if you may have a potential claim.”

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