BOTCHED eye surgeries carried out by a private company at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton are costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, it has been revealed.

In 2014, the County Gazette reported how cataract surgeries at the hospital were terminated after only four days, following concerns from NHS staff.

Complications reported by patients were 10 times the number that might have been expected.

Out of 62 operations carried out, 31 patients had suffered problems and one man was even left blind in one eye.

The operations were carried out by private healthcare firm Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, which had been appointed by the trust to help clear a backlog.

Vanguard then sub-contracted part of the contract to another company, The Practice, who then further sub-contracted to Kestrel Ophthalmics.

The contract, rumoured to be worth £320,000, should have seen 400 operations carried out.

An internal investigation was carried out by the hospital into what went wrong, but Musgrove refused to publish it for fear of being sued for defamation.

The NHS is now paying out for compensation claims and there is no indication that it will be able to recoup the damages paid from Vanguard.

Michael Newcombe, 84, lost his sight following the surgery. He later underwent successful surgery to remove the cataract in his left eye, thanks to Musgrove’s own consultants.

He has also had surgery to reduce the discomfort in the injured eye, but he remains functionally blind in that eye.

Now, he is being paid “substantial”

damages, running into tens of thousands of pounds, for his ordeal.

But the damages are being paid by the NHS, not the companies involved.

His son Chris said: “It became apparent that Musgrove’s own surgeons had misgivings about the levels of care.

“The Musgrove consultants were the ones picking up the pieces after my father’s injury, and we can only express our gratitude to them.

“Vanguard’s errors have had a devastating effect on my family and I find it galling to think that the hospital is having to shoulder the burden.”

The Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said its priority was to ensure affected patients got the care and treatment needed to resolve problems experienced, including justified claims are settled fairly and as quickly as possible.

A spokesman added: “While we cannot comment on individual settlements, the trust can confirm that it is actively engaged with any patients who have expressed concern about their treatment and/ or have indicated that a claim for compensation will be made.

“The trust will separately consider all available legal avenues – contractual or otherwise – to recover sums paid as compensation to patients in circumstances where a third party is found to be at fault.

“The trust’s arrangements do not preclude it from pursuing third parties, in appropriate cases, with a view to ensuring protection of NHS resources.”

Vanguard refused to comment and noone was available for comment from The Practice or Kestrel Ophthalmics.

Laurence Vick, partner and head of medical negligence at Exeter-based Michelmores, is representing claimants against Vanguard over the failed contract, including Mr Newcombe.

Mr Vick said: “We’ve been scrutinising the relationship between the NHS and the private sector for around a decade.

“Yet the arrangements for when things go wrong remain stubbornly opaque.

“When the Vanguard problems first emerged, the Department of Health confirmed to us, that under the terms of the standard NHS contract, the lack of appropriate indemnity would be justification in itself for terminating a contract.

“Yet as far as we know, the NHS will have to foot the bill for the negligence of these private companies.”