A NEW fund has been set up so more victims of convicted breast surgeon Ian Paterson can claim compensation.
On Monday, July 26, the High Court approved the fund for those identified by Spire Healthcare as receiving inappropriate surgery by Paterson.
The court also removed the restrictions on solicitors who had previously represented patients to do so again.
In 2017, Paterson was jailed for 20 years after being convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding against ten patients.
The consultant breast surgeon, whose victims run into the hundreds, worked at hospitals run by the Heart of England NHS Trust (HEFT) and also practiced privately at Bupa hospitals in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, latterly run by Spire Healthcare.
At the time, it was believed Spire Healthcare had contacted all of Paterson’s victims, but after an Independent Inquiry published a report in February 2020, it was revealed that the initial recall was insufficient.
As a result thousands of newly identified former patients of Paterson have now been written to by Spire Healthcare and it is expected many of them will be eligible to make a compensation claim.
Sarah Jane Downing, the founder of the support group for Paterson’s private patients, said: “People will now have access to the solicitors who fought for us so their cases can be assessed fully and fairly within the context of all that was revealed previously.
“Although Spire Healthcare have finally recalled all the patients Ian Paterson performed surgery on at their hospitals I am concerned the BMI Priory Hospital group has not been as thorough in their recall.
“I have a lady in my group who suffered breast surgery from Ian Paterson at an NHS hospital who has never received a proper recall, so I am also concerned that if the NHS recall has failed her, there might be other Paterson patients who have been missed.”
Linda Millband, head of clinical negligence at Thompsons Solicitors who represented patients in the original case against Paterson, said: “It is clear people have been missed and we will be urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Ian Paterson, at any time, to come forward and seek compensation for their injuries.”
Kashmir Uppal, of Shoosmiths LLP – who has represented Paterson’s clients in seeking justice – said: “I know from previous clients that I have represented the impact Mr Paterson’s actions had on them at the time and continue to have and I am pleased a new compensation fund is being set up to enable people to access justice they deserve.”
