A man from Redditch is calling for lessons to be learned after failed brain operations left him unable to work. 

Chris Tyler, aged 61, from Feckenham, underwent a deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in February 2017 to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. 

The former company director said he was left unable to clothe or feed himself following the procedure, which involves making small holes in the skull to implant electrodes into the brain. 

Mr Tyler said: "Being diagnosed with Parkinson's was a huge shock. One of the things I have struggled with is being unable to work. I was at the top in my industry but it's not something you can be away from for an extended time. 

"I picked the time for the initial DBS when I thought I had the best window to recover, resume my life and get back to work. 

"I couldn't believe it when the first procedure seemed to make things worse and I wouldn't have been able to get by without the support of my wife Tracey, my son Adam, daughter Jade and the family."

As Mr Tyler's condition deteriorated, a second DBS procedure was performed in May 2019. 

An internal NHS serious incident report into his treatment said this was done after MRI scans revealed the placement of the electrodes in the first operation was "suboptimal". 

The father-of-three was then referred to another hospital which found the placement of the electrodes in his second DBS were also suboptimal. 

Following the procedures, Mr Tyler, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013, instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Michell to investigate. 

Mr Tyler said: "The doctors were confident they could put it right, but the second DBS made matters worse. I was very low at that point. I felt like history was repeating itself and I lived like a hermit reluctant to leave the house and reliant on others for help day-to-day."

The serious incident report published in June 2020 by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), which runs the QE Hospital, found several issues in the DBS service. 

The service had been suspended four times in four years due to manpower and governance issues. 

The investigation recommended the service should not restart without a full independent external review and approval at executive director level. 

In a separate legal case, UHB admitted liability for failings in the second procedure and the parties are working towards a settlement. 

Redditch Advertiser: Chris Tyler was left unable to work Chris Tyler was left unable to work (Image: Irwin Mitchell)

Catherine Buchanan, the specialist medical negligence lawyer representing Mr Tyler, said: "The last few years have proved incredibly traumatic for Chris and his family. Parkinson's disease left him facing many challenges and the initial treatment that was supposed to ease his symptoms left him with severe side effects that massively impacted his quality of life. 

"While further DBS treatment at an alternative hospital has seen Chris make great strides in his recovery and regain much of his independence, it still came too late for him to pick back up the career he loved. 

"While we welcome the admissions made by the Hospital Trust, Chris' case is a stark reminder of the terrible consequences patients can be left to face due to care failings."

Mr Tyler got a second opinion in December 2019 with the third DBS being carried out on March 10, 2022. 

This has allowed Mr Tyler to feed himself, his tremor is mild and he can undertake limited leisure activities. 

The Serious Incident Report into Mr Tyler's care not only highlighted the suboptimal placement of the electrodes but the consent process for the second DBS was not completed and equipment issues were not reported. 

The report said the Trust's DBS service had a "poor culture of safety and quality". 

The hospital has since written to Mr Tyler to apologise for the care and treatment he received. 

He added: "I'm just thankful this third DBS has proved a success. It's not perfect but the transformation from where I was is night and day.

"It's worrying to think these failings in the DBS service go back years and the incident report made for distressing reading. I can only hope now that lessons are learned from what happened to me."

UHB were contacted but did not wish to provide a comment.