A mother shared the heartbreaking account of how her nine-year-old son passed away in extreme pain following a procedure at an NHS hospital. Jack Moate underwent surgery performed by Kuldeep Stohr, an orthopaedic consultant who has since been suspended, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on September 28, 2015. Tragically, Jack died less than two months later due to complications from the lengthy surgery, which resulted in significant blood loss, misalignment of his right hip, and instability and non-healing of his left hip.
Nearly a decade later, the case has been referred to a coroner after an investigation into Stohr’s practices revealed evidence of causing fatal physical harm. Jack, who had various complex medical issues and limited mobility, underwent the operation to address his hip problems but sadly passed away on November 21, 2015, with the recorded cause of death including deep vein thrombosis, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.
The hospital’s letter to Jack’s mother, Elizabeth Moate, last month disclosed that an independent expert review identified evidence of fatal physical harm in Jack’s care. The investigation concluded that the care provided did not meet expected standards. This case was part of a broader external clinical review initiated by the hospital trust last year concerning Stohr’s practice, prompted by concerns about substandard care.
Ms. Moate expressed her distress over the surgery, citing her son’s complex medical conditions and vulnerability to infections. She lamented the hospital’s decision to proceed with simultaneous hip surgeries, which led to Jack’s suffering and eventual tragic outcome. Seeking answers and justice for her son, Ms. Moate and her solicitor have called for a statutory inquiry and urgent action from authorities.
In response, Dr. Sue Broster, the chief medical officer at CUH, extended apologies for the shortcomings in Jack’s care and assured support for the grieving family. The hospital has cooperated with the coroner’s investigation into Jack’s death and pledged to assist fully. The ongoing review of Stohr’s cases aims to identify any lapses and recommend improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Stohr was removed from clinical practice in 2024 and remains suspended. The clinical review process is expected to conclude this summer, with the trust committed to transparency by publishing findings and implementing necessary changes.