Call Follows Conviction Of Ian Paterson Last Month

Specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell say they are backing the Royal College of Surgeons’ (RCS) call for a review of private sector transparency and safety standards.

The call in an open letter by RCS comes following the conviction of breast surgeon Ian Paterson which thrust the private healthcare sector into the mainstream media spotlight.

The letter calls for the next Government to review how safety standards and transparency can improve and welcomes a suggestion by the Secretary of State for Health that there would be an inquiry into the actions of Ian Paterson.

Irwin Mitchell which acts on behalf of hundreds of patients affected by treatment in both the private sector and NHS have welcomed the call and said more needs to be done to improve patient safety and options for redress for patients in the private sector. The RCS letter also highlights the need for greater regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry which is almost entirely private.

Expert Opinion

“Patients are generally uninformed about the insurance of doctors and private surgery and “what if something goes wrong?” is not usually on their mind when they need care.

“The fact is that if something goes wrong in a private setting then often the patient is less protected than if it happened on the NHS. There can be issues with levels of indemnity insurance not being adequate to cover the injuries suffered. Problems with insurance cover can also leave an injured patient exposed if they need follow up care and rehabilitation.

“Private hospitals need to take more responsibility for the surgeons they are allowing to practice within their hospitals. Contracts for private care can be complicated and patients often won’t understand the terms and conditions.

“We welcome the review and hope that the sector can become more transparent which will both improve standards and provide clearer route of redress for patients in the event of any negligent care.” Laura Daly - Partner

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Medical Negligence Claims.