An NHS trust has paid out a total of more than £2.25 million as a result of claims against one of its surgeons.

The orthopaedic surgeon, who worked full time at Rotherham Hospital until 2007 and then part time until 2009, had already been the subject of more than 20 successful claims relating to errors during operations.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust recently admitted liability in four more cases, which were settled for amounts ranging from £26,000 to £62,000. Together with the earlier cases, one of which resulted in compensation of £830,000, the Trust has now paid out £2,252,000 in respect of claims involving the surgeon.

One claim previously settled was made by a man who had surgery on his hip. He claimed that the surgeon damaged his sciatic nerve and fractured his pelvis while performing the operation. This left him with mobility problems and an unstable hip.

In another case, the surgeon allegedly gave a woman the wrong hip prosthesis, leaving her with restricted mobility and a disability.

The surgeon retains his licence to practise, as the General Medical Council has cleared him of any wrongdoing. However, a further 76 claims relating to operations he performed are still ongoing.