The review by Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust covered a number of complex paediatric hip surgery cases performed by the unnamed surgeon over the past two and a half years.

CUH chief executive, Roland Sinker, said that while none of the outcomes were life threatening the treatment of the children was ‘below the standard we would expect and that they and their families are entitled to expect from us'.

Sinker added: ‘We are very sorry that this has happened and we apologise unreservedly to our patients and their families.

‘We take this matter extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring all affected patients and families receive appropriate care and support.

‘The trust is contacting the patients and their families identified through this external review. We will now schedule appointments, where required, for them to undergo further clinical assessments.

‘We have also put in place arrangements to commission a further external review into all of the planned surgical operations carried out by the individual during their employment with the trust. This will review the quality of care received by those patients.'