In April 2025, the General Medical Council (GMC) imposed restrictions on the medical practice of Dr Olanrewaju Emmanuel Atiba, an obstetrician at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage. This followed a prolonged period of concern regarding his clinical decision-making and care of patients during childbirth.
The concerns were not isolated. According to the GMC, there was a discernible pattern over time. Deficiencies were noted particularly in Dr Atiba’s choice of intervention—specifically, the use of rotational forceps instead of opting for caesarean sections where appropriate. The GMC also raised concerns about poor record-keeping, inadequate consent procedures, and a failure to seek guidance in complex clinical situations.
Such concerns are not merely administrative or procedural, they strike at the heart of patient safety and trust in the healthcare system. When childbirth is already an emotionally and physically intense experience, the decisions made by clinicians can have life-altering consequences. The GMC’s decision to impose undertakings, rather than remove Dr Atiba from the register, was based on his willingness to engage with the process and accept shortcomings. Still, the impact on those who may have been affected remains.
The language of regulatory findings can often feel abstract, but for families living with the consequences of avoidable harm during childbirth, these reports carry deep, personal significance. They raise questions about how long patterns of questionable practice can persist before intervention occurs, and how systems of oversight both at hospital and national level, should function to protect patients before harm happens, not just respond afterwards.
Moreover, the concerns underline a broader issue in maternity care: the use of forceps and the protocols around consent and risk communication. It is a timely reminder of the need for consistent training, transparent communication, and accountability in obstetrics, a field where decisions are often made under intense pressure and with lifelong consequences.
For those treated by Dr Atiba, particularly where forceps were used and complications followed, this moment offers an opportunity for reflection, review, and potentially redress. But it also signals the need for systemic improvement. Ensuring that patterns of concern are identified early, families are heard when they raise concerns, and care is delivered in a way that prioritises safety, dignity, and informed choice.
While the GMC’s report has brought this clinician under scrutiny, it also serves as a wider call to strengthen the mechanisms that underpin trust in maternity services—so that no family is left wondering whether their experience was part of a preventable pattern.
The sanction details are publicly available on the GMC website.
How Tees can help
Our specialist medical negligence lawyers are already supporting families affected by this situation and forceps use during deliveries. We are ideally placed to assist mothers and babies who may have been affected. If Dr Atiba was involved in your labour, and you feel some of the issues raised by the GMC apply to you, we can help assess whether you have a valid claim for compensation and secure the compensation you deserve.
You may have a claim if:
- You were treated by Dr Atiba and/or at the Lister Hospital
- Your baby was delivered by rotational forceps
- You or your child are now experiencing ongoing medical issues or distress following treatment
