A North East NHS Trust has confirmed it has written to some former patients whose care is being reviewed amid concerns over the work of former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Leslie Irwin.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said its review into care provided by Mr Irwin is ongoing and is being carried out with the support of independent clinical experts.
In a new statement, the Trust said: “As part of our review into concerns over Mr Leslie Irwin, we have now written to a number of patients whose care is being reviewed.”
It added: “This review is ongoing and continues to be carried out with the support of independent clinical experts.
“We understand that patients and families may have questions, and we will keep those involved informed throughout the process.
“Any former patients of Mr Irwin who have questions or concerns can contact the Trust via freephone 0800 587 6513 or email stsft.adviceandcomplaints@nhs.net.”
Leslie Irwin
(Image: SUPPLIED)
Mr Irwin, 64, worked at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust between 2001 and 2022, when he retired from the Trust.
He also practised at Spire Washington Hospital, where a separate review into his work remains ongoing.
Earlier this year, the NHS Trust confirmed it had asked the Royal College of Surgeons of England to support a review of orthopaedic care following concerns raised about Mr Irwin’s work at Spire.
The Trust initially said it was considering the implications of the concerns identified by the private hospital and was not recalling patients at that stage.
It subsequently confirmed it was working to identify which former patients would need their care reviewed and had commissioned the Royal College of Surgeons to assist.
Spire Hospital in Washington
(Image: Stuart Boulton/NORTHERN ECHO)
The latest statement confirms that process has now progressed to the point where some patients have been contacted directly about their care.
The Royal College of Surgeons previously confirmed it had been commissioned by the Trust to carry out an “invited review” of a series of episodes of patient care relating to orthopaedic surgery.
Its invited review service uses expert teams to assess whether there may be cause for concern about surgical practice, a surgical service or individual episodes of care, before making recommendations where appropriate.
Meanwhile, Spire Washington Hospital confirmed on Monday (August 17) that its own review into care provided by Mr Irwin is continuing.
Spire Healthcare suspended Mr Irwin in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024.
Sunderland Royal Hospital
(Image: Stuart Boulton/NORTHERN ECHO)
The private hospital began contacting patients who had undergone surgery with Mr Irwin during the summer of 2025 after concerns were identified over aspects of his work.
It has previously apologised to patients who it said did not receive “an appropriate standard of care” from Mr Irwin.
Spire said it is reviewing specific procedures carried out on a select cohort of patients and is in direct contact with those affected to offer support.
Its investigation is being carried out in accordance with NHS England’s National Quality Board Recall Framework.
Separately, the Care Quality Commission inspected Spire Washington Hospital in October 2025 after concerns were raised with the healthcare regulator.
During the inspection, the private hospital was rated 'Good'.
Mr Irwin relinquished his registration with the General Medical Council in May 2025. As he is no longer registered, the GMC cannot pursue fitness-to-practise proceedings against him.
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His company, Irwin Medical Consultancy Services Limited, has also since been dissolved following a voluntary liquidation process.
Numerous former patients have raised concerns about treatment they received from Mr Irwin, while law firm Slater and Gordon is investigating potential clinical negligence cases relating to care provided at both Spire Washington and Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Spire Healthcare has previously 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.
“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.”