A disgraced surgeon whose botched treatments injured over 450 patients has cost the NHS nearly £20million in compensation payouts, it can be revealed.
Anthony Dixon, 65, was struck off last year after two separate tribunals found he had committed misconduct.
He was found to have used surgical mesh to treat bowel complaints without patients’ informed consent, failed to explain the procedure or explore alternative options, and even fabricated patients’ records.
One patient operated on by Dixon took her own life after being left in agony.
Millions more in compensation has been paid out by private health firms and the surgeon’s own insurers – and the compensation bill could rise higher still as further civil claims are still being dealt with by the High Court.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found Dixon – a doctor of 41 years – had ‘demonstrated a persistent lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions’.
Dixon carried out the treatments at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital, run by North Bristol NHS Trust, and at private hospitals run by Spire and Circle.
Since 2017, hundreds of patients have brought civil claims in the High Court, the last of which are still going through the legal process – with one couple registering the latest claim only last month.
NHS Resolution – the department of the health service dealing with compensation claims – revealed it has paid out £19.12million so far to 245 claimants.
Internal reviews found there were 203 cases where harm had been caused by Dixon at Southmead and 259 cases at Bristol’s Spire Hospital. A smaller amount of cases involved patients of Circle Health.
Former patients of the colorectal surgeon said they were left disabled and physically and mentally damaged – with some having to use colostomy bags for the rest of their lives.
Law firms Irwin Mitchell and Thompsons have each represented over 100 claimants, securing compensation cases which have reached seven-figures in some cases.
At least four other law firms are representing victims, including Leigh Day, Enable Law, Barcan and Kirby, and Penningtons Marches Cooper.
Linda Millband, head of group claims at Thompsons, said the case was ‘one of the largest’ group claims against a rogue surgeon – although it is dwarfed by claims after being mistreated by rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson.
Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after admitting 20 counts of wounding. An inquiry found he subjected over 1,000 women to unnecessary and damaging operations.
One woman treated by Dixon killed herself after the doctor, who is under investigation by the NHS, removed her ovaries during an operation because ‘they were getting in the way’.
The surgeon saw Lucinda Methuen-Campbell at a private hospital in 2016 for a bowel disorder.
Dixon allegedly told Mrs Methuen-Campbell that he removed her ovaries during the surgery ‘because they were in the way’.
Mrs Methuen-Campbell, who died aged 58, had a vaginal mesh implant inserted to help with a bowel disorder but it left her in agony.
She was later found hanged in her attic after telling her former partner that ‘there didn’t seem to be a way out of the pain’.
After an inquest in 2018, assistant coroner Aled Gruffydd recorded a conclusion of suicide. The case came as claims had already started against Dixon.
Ms Millband said: ‘Claims involving Dixon started in 2017 and there are still a few which are outstanding. Some of the injuries were catastrophic and life-changing.
‘I think it is one of the largest group claims of people who were damaged by a single surgeon except for Paterson’.
Thompsons said it secured payouts ranging from £20,000 to over £1million, with at least 25 per cent having a value in excess of £100,000.
Lucie Prothero, of Penningtons, said impacts of the operations included ‘pelvic pain, rectal pain, altered defaecation, lower back pain, lower urinary tract symptoms, faecal urgency, mesh erosion’.
Female patients also suffered vaginal pain and painful sexual intercourse.
She added: ‘Some claimants have required revision surgeries, and some have been left with a permanent stoma or will require one in the future. Additionally, claimants could suffer future surgical risks.’
The most recent case, filed in the High Court at the end of March, involves a claim by a couple in their 60s who have launched a clinical negligence claim against Dixon himself.
The claim is being made under Part 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules, a streamlined court procedure used for cases ‘unlikely to involve a substantial dispute of fact’.
Neither the couple, represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell, wished to comment about the case but it is thought they are seeking ‘substantial’ compensation.
Irwin Mitchell said it was unable to comment on any of the cases due to ‘legally binding confidentiality clauses’.
A North Bristol NHS Trust spokesperson said: ‘Mr Dixon was dismissed in 2019. We carried out a thorough and robust review of affected patients and are working with NHS Resolution to resolve these claims.
‘Once again we would like to reiterate our apology to all of these individuals.’
Spire Healthcare said: ‘While legal proceedings are ongoing, we can’t comment. We don’t comment on legal settlements.’
Dixon, who lives with his wife at a secluded address in the leafy village of Olveston, near Bristol, said: ‘I have devoted my working life to the practise of surgery, much of it involving cancer operations which have never been criticised, and I have always endeavoured to provide the highest standard of care to my patients.
‘I apologise to those I may have let down. I will not be commenting further at this time.’
