Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the independent investigation of the activities of the orthopaedic surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital by Verita, published on 29 October, and whether it informed the duty of candour and assistance proposed in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

On 19 November 2025, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety met with a number of families to discuss how they have been impacted by surgeries carried out by Kuldeep Stohr, and also considered the report by Verita, published on 29 October 2025, into the missed opportunities by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH). The report made for difficult reading and highlighted multiple missed opportunities in clinical oversight, leadership, and governance to address concerns that were previously raised about Ms Stohr’s clinical practice.

The trust board has accepted the findings and recommendations of the Verita investigation in full and is committed to delivering systemic and transparent change. The Government is assured that NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, the integrated care board, and Healthwatch will provide independent assurance that the trust is fully implementing all recommendations, ensuring accountability, transparency, and measurable improvements in patient safety. The trust is also establishing a new Patient Advisory Board and Young Patients’ Advisory Board to ensure that the CUH’s response delivers meaningful and patient-centred improvement.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill was published on 16 September 2025. The duty of candour and assistance in the bill was not informed by the Verita report. The bill responds to long-standing demands for openness and transparency from families affected by major institutional failures such as those seen in Hillsborough as well as the Horizon and Infected Blood scandals.