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Surgery negligence claims against the Southwest Cleft Service
Surgery negligence
Surgery negligence claims against Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust's Southwest Cleft Service
Questions have been raised about cleft treatment provided by Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (Southwest Cleft Service), with concerns that families may not be receiving clear, timely and appropriate care in line with national cleft‑care standards.
Concerns have been raised about cleft treatment provided by Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (Southwest Cleft Service) around delays and unexpected changes to surgery. This experience has raised questions about whether families are currently receiving clear, timely and appropriate care in line with national cleft‑care standards.
These concerns sit against the backdrop of a harm review published in April 2023, which examined cleft care delivered by the service between 2020 and 2022. The review found that 118 children had experienced some degree of harm linked to delayed cleft procedures, with further young patients considered at increased risk.
Although the trust apologised and contacted families it identified, the findings highlighted systemic issues that may remain relevant for families seeking clarity today. Slater & Gordon is currently acting for families whose experiences raise important questions about whether similar concerns may still be affecting patients under the service.
What did the 2023 review find?
The April 2023 harm review confirmed that the Southwest Cleft Service had been experiencing systemic issues during the period examined. These included reduced access to operating theatres, pressure on specialist teams and long‑term sickness among key clinicians which were already apparent before the Covid-19 pandemic made delays worse.
These issues contributed to delays that, in some cases, pushed essential cleft procedures beyond recommended NHS developmental timeframes, such as palate repair after 13 months, delays which can have consequences for feeding, speech and social development.
Why this matters now
For parents, unclear communication, sudden changes to treatment plans or decisions that don’t align with expectations can be deeply worrying. Concerns raised highlight how difficult it can be for families to navigate treatment when clarity is missing, especially when decisions are time‑critical and may have long‑term developmental implications.
The concerns raised also highlight the possibility that other families receiving cleft care from the service may be facing similar concerns without yet realising that their child’s treatment could be affected.
Speak to our specialist team
If your child’s cleft treatment under the Southwest Cleft Service involved delays, unexpected changes or decisions you didn’t fully understand, you are not alone and there may be other families in the same position.
Contact our specialist surgery negligence team today
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim.
Ms S (medical negligence client)
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive.
Mr Q (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help.
Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim. Ms S (medical negligence client)
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive. Mr Q (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help. Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)