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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Opportunities missed' over breast surgeon Ian Paterson | 'Opportunities missed' over breast surgeon Ian Paterson |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two hospitals missed opportunities to take action against a consultant breast surgeon who was performing unnecessary or incomplete operations, a review has found. | Two hospitals missed opportunities to take action against a consultant breast surgeon who was performing unnecessary or incomplete operations, a review has found. |
| Spire Healthcare began investigating the work of Dr Ian Paterson at two private West Midlands hospitals in 2007. | Spire Healthcare began investigating the work of Dr Ian Paterson at two private West Midlands hospitals in 2007. |
| Mr Paterson was suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2012. | |
| Spire Healthcare has apologised "unreservedly" to all patients. | Spire Healthcare has apologised "unreservedly" to all patients. |
| 'Poor communication' | 'Poor communication' |
| A number of key events and missed opportunities occurred at Spire Parkway in Solihull and Spire Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield leading to a failure to take action against Mr Paterson, the independent review concluded. | A number of key events and missed opportunities occurred at Spire Parkway in Solihull and Spire Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield leading to a failure to take action against Mr Paterson, the independent review concluded. |
| Mr Paterson, who was employed there from 1993 to 2012, "continually breached" Spire's practising privileges policy which, it is claimed, should have been a warning that he was unwilling to comply with procedures. | |
| The private healthcare organisation was alerted by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) to issues surrounding his work in 2007. | The private healthcare organisation was alerted by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) to issues surrounding his work in 2007. |
| But the review said there was poor communication between the trust and Spire about HEFT's investigation into Mr Paterson. | But the review said there was poor communication between the trust and Spire about HEFT's investigation into Mr Paterson. |
| A total of 15 recommendations for improving procedures were made in the report and all will be implemented, Spire said. | A total of 15 recommendations for improving procedures were made in the report and all will be implemented, Spire said. |
| The case was referred to West Midlands Police following Mr Paterson's suspension by the GMC in 2012. | |
| He carried out "cleavage sparing" mastectomies while at the two private hospitals and Solihull Hospital. | |
| The GMC said the procedure, which left a small amount of tissue for cosmetic reasons, breached national guidelines because it risked the return of cancer. | |
| More than 700 patients, who had been treated by the surgeon and subsequently recalled by Spire, were contacted as part of its review. | More than 700 patients, who had been treated by the surgeon and subsequently recalled by Spire, were contacted as part of its review. |
| Mr Paterson was invited to take part but declined to do so, Spire said. | Mr Paterson was invited to take part but declined to do so, Spire said. |
| 'Sorry for distress' | |
| Rob Roger, chief executive of Spire Healthcare, said the report made "challenging reading". | Rob Roger, chief executive of Spire Healthcare, said the report made "challenging reading". |
| "We give a full and unreserved apology to all of the patients and their families for any distress they have suffered as a result of their treatment by Mr Paterson while he was a surgeon at the Spire Parkway and Little Aston hospitals," he said. | "We give a full and unreserved apology to all of the patients and their families for any distress they have suffered as a result of their treatment by Mr Paterson while he was a surgeon at the Spire Parkway and Little Aston hospitals," he said. |
| "I would also like to apologise to the professionals who raised concerns at the time Mr Paterson was practising." | "I would also like to apologise to the professionals who raised concerns at the time Mr Paterson was practising." |
| In December, an independent review of his work at Solihull found hundreds of breast cancer patients were failed by the trust. | In December, an independent review of his work at Solihull found hundreds of breast cancer patients were failed by the trust. |
| The report said senior managers at the trust did not respond effectively until 2007 and their response was neither sufficiently robust nor rigorous. | |
| In November last year, a solicitor representing some patients said the NHS has so far paid out £3,220,315 in damages, out of 503 claims. | |
| Kashmir Uppal, from Birmingham law firm Thompsons, who is representing 400 women, said the firm had settled 10 claims so far. | |
| A spokeswoman for the Medical Defence Union said Mr Paterson did not want to comment on the Spire report because of his duty of confidentiality and the ongoing investigations. |