Medical Negligence Experts Who Secured Settlements For Surgeon’s Other Patients Say Change Needed To Ensure Safety

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have spoken of their concern after it was announced a further 1,500 patients operated on by convicted breast surgeon Ian Paterson are being recalled. 

Private healthcare operator Spire has today said hundreds more patients are being contacted and their treatment investigated following a trawl of IT systems. 

Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after carrying out unnecessary and botched operations on hundreds of patients in NHS and private hospitals in Birmingham and Solihull.

Lawyers secure settlements for Ian Paterson patients

Irwin Mitchell went on to secure settlements for dozens of those affected by the scandal. 

In 2020 the Paterson Inquiry report found “a culture of avoidance and denial" left Paterson free to practise. 

It recommended all 11,000 people Paterson operated on should be recalled. 

Spire today said that it had already contacted 5,500 patients over the past two years but had now identified a further 1,500 following checks of “legacy IT systems”. The patients were treated between 1993 and the early 2000s, a Spire statement said. 

Medical negligence lawyers' shock at latest Spire recall

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have spoken of their shock at the latest recall and called for action to ensure all of Paterson’s patients have been identified and offered a review of their care. 

Expert Opinion

“While Paterson may be behind bars once again his actions continue to cause immense worry among his patients.

“Today’s news will be shocking and distressing not only to those already aware of what Paterson did to them but also those women, that for decades, were unaware that they could be caught up in this scandal.

“Understandably these 1,500 people are likely to now have a number of concerns about their care. While nothing can make up for what’s happened it’s vital that these people not only receive the help required to ensure they're given the answers they deserve, but if needed, the specialist treatment and support they need for any ongoing issues as a result of failures in care.

“Once again serious fears regarding the care patients receive in private hospitals are in the spotlight. The well documented issues around Paterson and other rogue surgeons clearly highlight the need for change to ensure patient safety.

“We now call on Spire to ensure it has done everything possible to have identified all of Paterson’s private patients so they can have their care reviewed.

“We can’t be in a position where in a couple of years’ time more patients are contacted out of the blue to say they could be affected.” Laura Daly

Ian Paterson: Thousands of patients in West Midlands operated on 

Between 1997 and 2011, Paterson is known to have treated thousands of patients at Spire Parkway hospital and Spire Little Aston hospital in the West Midlands.

He also worked at NHS hospitals run by the former Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

The Paterson Inquiry

The Paterson Inquiry was launched in 2018. Following two years of investigations, including hearing 181 first-hand accounts from the surgeon’s former patients, it made 15 recommendations. 

These included a recall of all patients. Inquiry chairman the Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, also called for the government to introduce reforms, including regulation of insurance protection for patients as a “nationwide safety net.”

A single place where patients can access and easily understand key performance data of consultants should also be created. 

Spire Healthcare's response to recall

Dr Cathy Cale, Spire's group medical director today apologised for the "significant distress and harm" suffered by patients.

She added that the company had been tracking down and contacting all of Paterson’s patients. Spire was fully committed to implementing the Paterson Inquiry recommendations.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people affected by surgery failings at our medical negligence section. Alternatively to speak to an
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