A world-renowned transplant surgeon who fought for two years to win back his NHS job has been praised by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Professor Nadey Hakim was reinstated by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in April after a tribunal ruled he had been unfairly dismissed following a row about him operating on two private patients and an NHS patient on the same day in 2013.
Mr Hunt attended a ceremony at the French embassy on Wednesday where Professor Hakim received a Légion d’honneur medal from the French government for his work.
Mr Hunt said: “Professor Hakim has made an enormous contribution to surgery here in the UK and in France. It is wonderful to see that recognised.”
French ambassador Sylvie Bermann said of Professor Hakim: “Your contribution to research and experience in pancreas transplants has led to many lives being saved.”
The father of four, who trained at Guy’s hospital and in France and the US, performed London’s first pancreatic transplant in 1995, and represented Britain in a team of surgeons who performed the world’s first double hand and forearm transplant in 2000.
“It’s said your work has raised more than £3.5 million in research donations for the NHS,” Ms Bermann added.
Professor Hakim, 57, who works at Hammersmith hospital, said: “I am very grateful to the French government for having bestowed on me this honour.”
He was suspended in 2014 and dismissed in February last year for delaying his involvement in an NHS transplant to perform a transplant at a private hospital.
However, no patients suffered complications and Imperial was ordered to reinstate Professor Hakim and pay £100,000 compensation.
