![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SVR-NEC-080626-lindseyjpeg.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLindsey Randall is the latest former patient of Leslie Irwin to speak out.<\/p>\n
Hand surgery patient Lindsey Randall(Image: Irwin Mitchell \/ Lindsey Randall)<\/p>\n
A South Shields<\/a> mum has been left “struggling to use her hands” after surgery identified as “poor” at a privately-run hospital in Sunderland<\/a>. HR assistant Lindsey Randall, now 62, went under the knife of under-fire surgeon Leslie Iriwn at the Spire Washington Hospital twice during 2019 and 2020.<\/p>\n Last year though, a review of her care by the private healthcare provider – sparked after wider concerns about Mr Irwin’s work were raised – found she had “come to harm”. Mr Irwin retired from the NHS<\/a> in 2022, but was then suspended by Spire Healthcare two years later.<\/p>\n In January, it was revealed that Mr Irwin was now listed publicly on Spire’s website on a “recall” list of surgeons whereby any patients are “invited back for a consultation or to undertake a review of their care”. In March, the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust confirmed it had invited the Royal College of Surgeons to review the issue, too.<\/a><\/p>\n Mr Irwin deregistered himself from the General Medical Council in 2025 \u2013 meaning he cannot be investigated by the body. Speaking to the Mirror<\/a> in February, Mr Irwin’s wife dismissed the allegations, calling them “a total, complete lie”.<\/p>\n Lindsey has now instructed solicitors at firm Irwin Mitchell. She had undergone three joint-replacements with Mr Irwin across two procedures – on two occasions in October 2019 and November 2020.<\/p>\n Spire Washington Hospital(Image: Google)<\/p>\n However, following this, she said she was left unable to do things with her hands that most take for granted – including even unscrewing bottle-tops. Lindsey said: “When I went in for hand surgery, I hoped it would mean an end to the issues I\u2019d been having, but I ended up struggling to use my hands even more than before and the pain was worse. However, I didn\u2019t know what to do because Mr Irwin was the expert and I trusted him.<\/p>\n “When I found out he was being investigated, I felt some relief that it wasn\u2019t all in my head but also anger that I had been suffering for so long. I can\u2019t do ordinary things like straightening my hair or opening screw-cap bottles, just everyday things most people take for granted.<\/p>\n \u201cFor now, I\u2019m taking each day at a time. I haven\u2019t heard anything further from Spire but I\u2019ve been for appointments at my local hospital. I know nothing can make up for what I\u2019ve been through but by speaking out I hope I can help others facing a similar situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Lindsey who has three children and lives with husband Peter, 66, had been first referred after visiting a GP complaining of pain in her fingers in November 2018. Now, Spire’s investigation has, according to a letter solicitors said Lindsey had received, shown that her care was “poor” and there was “inadequate” follow-up afterwards.<\/p>\n The firm also wrote to her to apologise for the “distress” caused. Irwin Mitchell medical negligence lawyer Tim Arnett said: “While these investigations are vital to ensure lessons are learned and patient safety is improved, it\u2019s clear that patients like Lindsey have been badly let down.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of receiving the proper treatment and follow\u2011up she needed, Lindsey has been left dealing with ongoing symptoms and an uncertain future.”<\/p>\n Mr Arnett said that his firm had received a “number of concerning first-hand accounts” from other patients, and he encouraged those affected to seek advice.<\/p>\n When approached by the Mirror as to the wider concerns <\/a>about his practice in February, Mr Irwin’s wife added: “No doctor can speak because of the General Medical Council rules. He does not have a right of reply. He requested to leave the medical register, this is so nasty, it is 40 years of someone’s career which has been smashed by innuendo on social media which we don’t even know about.”<\/p>\n A Spire Healthcare spokesperson said: “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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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\u2019s National Quality Board: Recall Framework<\/a>, which Spire Healthcare helped to develop.<\/p>\n \u201cIf any Spire Washington patients have questions about the care provided by Mr Irwin, they can call 0191 720 3031 or email spirepne@spirehealthcare.com<\/a> and a member of the dedicated review team will call them back.\u201d<\/p>\n Did you know you can make ChronicleLive a preferred source of North East news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information<\/a> about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Spire](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SVR-NEC-160226-spire2.jpg\")
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