Solicitors acting for private patients of Tony Dixon reach agreement with former surgeon’s representatives over scheme to deal with mesh claims

Posted: 07/09/2022

Specialist clinical negligence lawyers have reached an agreement with the Medical Protection Society (MPS), which represents the former colorectal surgeon Tony Dixon, over a protocol for the management of claims brought by the private patients concerned. 

Elise Bevan, partner in the clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, has been involved in discussions with other law firms and the MPS to agree a scheme for investigating and managing claims relating to mesh surgery. The aim of the protocol is to enable the claims to be dealt with as quickly as possible, resulting in earlier settlements. It is anticipated that the terms of the protocol will shortly be agreed between Penningtons Manches Cooper and the MPS, thereafter enabling the firm’s clients’ claims to be dealt with under the scheme. 

The clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches Cooper has been dealing with negligence claims against Mr Dixon, who worked at the private Spire Bristol Hospital, for the last four years. Following Mr Dixon’s suspension in 2017, Spire launched a formal investigation into the treatment he provided to patients at its Bristol Hospital, focusing on whether the surgical recommendations he made were appropriate, informed consent was obtained, and the surgery was carried out to an acceptable standard. 

The patients had all undergone a laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR), which was described by Mr Dixon as being a simple, straightforward operation that would solve all of their problems while incurring little risk. The LVMR procedure was pioneered by Mr Dixon and involves fixing artificial mesh to lift prolapsed bowels.

It is, however, far from risk free. Some patients have suffered severe damage to their bowel following the procedure such that they required a stoma, spent long periods of time in intensive care, experienced mesh erosion and needed complex surgery to remove the mesh, developed chronic and debilitating pain, or have been left unable to have sexual intercourse. 

Importantly, for most, the procedure was not actually required; Mr Dixon wrongly and inappropriately advised the patients to have surgery that was not indicated, and they did not need. He is also known for performing urogynaecological procedures which were unnecessary and which he did not have the expertise to perform.

If you are a private patient of Mr Dixon who has undergone LVMR surgery and would like informal, no obligation advice as to whether you have a claim, please contact the specialist team at Penningtons Manches Cooper on 0800 328 9545 or e-mail clinnegspecialist@penningtonslaw.com.

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