A Bromley man who was blinded in one eye by a botched surgical procedure has “grave concerns” over whether lessons have been learned at the hospital that treated him.

Simon Hewitt was diagnosed with a detached and torn retina aged 47, after he began experiencing issues with his right eye, including flashing lights and what are known as ‘floaters’.

Surgery to rectify the problem took place at Islington's Moorfields Eye Hospital in 2016, during which a failure to monitor fluid pressure resulted in catastrophic damage, including permanent loss of vision.

While the Trust has accepted liability for the accident, Mr Hewitt is concerned that the findings of an investigation into what happened are yet to be published.

Mr Hewitt, who is a graphic designer by trade, said: “I know that things can go wrong when you go into surgery, but at the very least you expect the medical team to know what they are doing and to carry out the most basic tasks to help protect their patients.

“In this case, the Trust accepted a breach in the duty of care I received, but the details surrounding that are still unclear, and it’s hard to live with the injuries and not really know what happened and whether lessons have been learnt.

“I also struggle with the lack of an apology. It makes me feel as though no one is really bothered by what happened.”

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Mr Hewitt instructed law firm Simpson Millar to investigate what went wrong and whether more could have been done to prevent his injuries.

While the hospital trust has since issued a full admission of liability, he says he has never received an apology, or an explanation, which left him struggling to accept that lessons have been learnt and that others will not suffer in the same way he did.

Following the deterioration of his eyesight, Mr Hewitt struggled to do some parts of his job, which requires and close attention to visual detail.

Mr Hewitt added: “I struggle with everyday tasks which I once completed with ease.

"Driving, accessing public transport, using computers at work, completing household chores – it has all become incredibly difficult.

“The past 4 years have seen me lose much of my independence.

“I had been looking to advance in my career before this all happened, but losing my vision in one eye, and having my confidence completely stripped away, has put to bed any possibility of this.

“Though I am pleased to have got an admission of liability, I am still desperate for answers as to why all of this happened, and I have grave concerns about whether lessons have actually be learnt.”

A spokesperson for Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are saddened by Mr Hewitt's experience of our treatment and care and are deeply sorry.

"We have accepted liability and have recently agreed a compensation package with his solicitors.

"As a result of Mr Hewitt's experience with us, we launched a thorough investigation.

"This identified errors, and appropriate education and measures are now in place to ensure this outcome does not happen again."