Royal College of Surgeons called in to Leslie Irwin NHS investigation

Earlier this year, an investigation and recall of patients connected to Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, was launched.

Dozens of patients have come forward over recent weeks who have previously undergone surgery from Mr Irwin, 63, often on multiple occasions over several years.

Leslie Irwin (Image: SUPPLIED)

Spire Washington Hospital, where Mr Irwin also practiced, confirmed earlier this year that his work had been identified as being of “concern” and it had recalled a number of his former patients following an internal investigation into their care.

Mr Irwin retired from Sunderland Royal Hospital in May 2022, and despite Spire’s action against Irwin becoming public in January this year, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said only that it was “considering any implications, the Trust is not currently recalling any patients”.

However, the NHS Trust has now significantly changed its stance, following widespread media reporting and a significant number of patients coming forward, and has confirmed it has sought the support of the Royal College of Surgeons in investigating the care Mr Irwin gave to patients.

Spire Hospital in Washington (Image: Stuart Boulton)

On Tuesday (March 3), the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that it had brought in the Royal College of Surgeons to review work carried out by its orthopaedic surgery department.

A statement from the Trust said: “We are liaising with Spire in relation to concerns over Mr Leslie Irwin and are currently working through the details of which patients the Trust will need to review.

“We have also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to support us in this process. As part of this review, we will be in touch with any former patients directly and as a matter of priority.”

Separately, the Royal College of Surgeons has also revealed that it was instructed by the Trust to help with its review.

A spokesperson for the RCS said: “At the invitation of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has been commissioned to carry out an invited review of a series of episodes of patient care relating to orthopaedic surgery at the Trust.

Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“Our invited reviews, which are advisory, enable expert teams to determine whether there is cause for concern about surgical practice or a surgical service, and/or individual episodes of care, and to make recommendations for improvement.

“Our unwavering commitment to patient care is why we offer healthcare organisations an invited review service.”

Mr Irwin who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, retired in 2022, but a selection of his patients have been contacted directly by Spire over potential issues with his work. 

Mr Irwin relinquished his role with the General Medical Council (GMC) in May 2025, which now means that no GMC investigation into his work is now possible.

Spire Healthcare suspended Mr Irwin in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024.

The private practice started recalling patients who were operated on by Mr Irwin during his time at Spire Washington Hospital in the summer of 2025.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) confirmed that it inspected Spire Washington Hospital in October last year after concerns were raised with it, and would be publishing its findings in due course.

Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Law firm Slater and Gordon has reported significant numbers of patients coming forward with concerns over the surgery they had with Mr Irwin.

John Lowther, specialist clinical negligence solicitor at Slater and Gordon in the North East, is leading the firm’s investigations into the work of Mr Irwin at both Sunderland Royal Hospital and Spire Washington Hospital.

“We have been investigating cases against Leslie Irwin for some time, but have seen very significant numbers of new people coming forward since Spire announced its investigation.

“We know from patients who were with Mr Irwin at Sunderland Royal Hospital, how upsetting and frustrating they found the initial stance of the NHS Trust,” he says.

South Tyneside and Sunderlans NHS Trust (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“It was very concerning how one place where Mr Irwin worked was concerned enough to investigate him, ban him from practicing and contact former patients proactively to highlight issues in their care, while the other took no action at all.

“We, of course, welcome the overdue announcement that the Trust has sought the support of a specialist from the Royal College of Surgeons, and hope this can help answer some of the many questions that exist around the practice of Mr Irwin over the course of many years.

“We will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of our clients in pursuit of this.”

Spire Washington says they have been in touch with patients and are reviewing specific procedures undertaken by Mr Irwin. 

A Spire Healthcare spokesperson: “We sincerely apologise to those patients who did not receive an appropriate standard of care from Mr Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has not practised at Spire Washington Hospital since 2023.

“We are currently reviewing specific procedures that were provided to a select cohort of patients of Mr Irwin and are in direct contact with these patients to offer support at what we recognise is a concerning time.

“The review is being run in accordance with NHS England’s National Quality Board: Recall Framework, which Spire Healthcare helped to develop.

“If any Spire Washington patients have questions about the care provided by Mr Irwin, they can call 0191 720 3031 or email spirepne@spirehealthcare.com and a member of the dedicated review team will call them back.”

Mr Irwin has not responded to requests for comment by The Northern Echo.