A group of 19 women who underwent botched breast surgery procedures has been awarded compensation totalling £700,000 in an out-of-court settlement with Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the trust suspended surgeon Puvaneswary Markandoo on full pay, after 30 women came forward complaining of pain, disfigurement and injury after operations performed as part of breast cancer treatment and other conditions.

The 19 women aged between 30 and 65 have received an average of £35,697 each and claims from six other women are still be dealt with.

An investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC) found Miss Markandoo ‘deficient’ in 11 areas, including basic and specialist surgery. As a consultant she earned £122,000 a year. She has been banned from operating privately, although the GMC agreed that she could still practise under the NHS supervised – and on the condition of undergoing further training not currently available in the private health sector. Miss Markandoo, 62, was never referred to a ’fitness to practice’ hearing, as the GMC considered imposing conditions on her sufficient.

One patient, however, alleged that the surgeon carried out an operation on her while she was still awake. Anne Bassett from Barnsley said:

‘Having breast cancer was bad enough, but I had the reconstruction just to make me feel a bit better, so I could wear nice clothes and look normal again. Then I ended up having eight or nine operations because they all went wrong. It was horrific.

‘I kept having to go back to the hospital because my stitches were busting open and leaking,’ said Ms Bassett.

‘On one occasion she said, “I won't put you to sleep for this one” – and operated on me while I was awake. It was like something out of a horror film. I still keep having nightmares and wake up screaming.’

A spokesman for the trust said in a statement:

‘The trust has worked hard with its insurers and legal advisers to ensure that these matters have been dealt with as quickly and reasonably as possible.

‘There are now six outstanding claims and the trust's solicitors and the solicitors for the remaining patients are continuing to investigate those, in the hope that they will shortly be brought to a swift conclusion.’

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