Reform ‘still needed’ after Paterson

THE Government has been urged by the victims of Midland breast surgeon Ian Paterson to step up implementation of key healthcare reform recommendations.

Paterson is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after wounding patients by carrying out unnecessary surgery.

He subjected more than a 1,000 patients to risky procedures which they did not need.

The surgeon carried out unapproved “cleavage-sparing” mastectomies on patients leaving behind breast tissue and risking a return of cancer.

Paterson was employed by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) – since taken over by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (UHB) – and Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.

The independent Paterson Inquiry into the issues raised, published in February 2020, found that many of Glasgow-born Paterson’s patients were “lied to, deceived or exploited”.

The inquiry led by Right Reverend Graham James, ex-bishop of Norwich, made 15 recommendations.

More than 13 months after the first anniversary of publication of the panel’s findings, Health Minister Nadine Dorries said five of those recommendations had been actioned by the NHS, private health provider Spire, and professional bodies.

She said the Government would respond to the remaining recommendations “during 2021”.

Victims of Paterson welcomed the update, but said the Government needed to get on with implementing all the report’s recommendations “to ensure safety and proper governance” for patients, in the NHS and private health sector.

Deborah Douglas, of Solihull Breast Friends, said without full implementation patient safety would remain “compromised”.

She said: “As far as patient safety and proper governance of healthcare providers goes, we’re still at threat of having another Paterson.”