Responding to the news that Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba will be reinstated under supervision, Professor Mike Griffin OBE, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) stated:
“This case has been tragic, and our hearts go out to Jack Adcock's family for the grief they continue to suffer.
“However, we believe it is right that Dr Bawa-Garba is reinstated. It is clear that the hospital failed to provide Jack with the care he needed; however, by expecting Dr Bawa-Garba to manage a set of circumstances that were largely out of her control, the hospital also failed Dr Bawa-Garba.
“All of us working in the NHS must learn from this case to ensure these terrible events are never repeated. The NHS needs to look at how it treats trainees in an overstretched and under-resourced system to ensure they are never overworked or placed in such difficult situations. Leadership from our senior staff has never been more important.
"The NHS must also look at improving communication, team working and resilience.
"And it must replace a culture of blame with one in which the care on offer is constantly reviewed to improve patient safety."
David Riding, Chair of the RCSEd’s Trainees Committee, added
"Ultimately, this is a desperately sad incident where a child has died, bringing grief and a sense of loss to their family which will affect them for the rest of their lives.
“But to place the responsibility for Jack’s death on the shoulders of one doctor is wrong.
“The system that operated in this hospital failed to protect both patients and staff, and increased the likelihood of individual mistakes having major consequences. The blame culture in evidence here does nothing to promote the supportive environment that allows doctors to practice safely.
“For too long, hospitals have relied on doctors of all levels of experience - but particularly trainees -to provide safe patient care in spite of the system. Hospital leaders need to do much more to ensure that the working culture and systems in their hospitals encourage, and do not threaten, the high quality care we know the NHS can provide.”