Irwin Mitchell Say Questions Remain About Systemic Failings That Led To Surgery ‘Scandal’

Medical law experts at Irwin Mitchell representing clients and families affected by negligent care at the hands of Birmingham surgeon Ian Paterson have welcomed a series of recommendations released by Spire Healthcare today (4 March) to prevent the same scandal from being repeated.

However the leading law firm says it’s ‘too little too late’ for many of their clients and questions remain about why Mr Paterson was not suspended by the two private hospitals sooner, despite them being aware of concerns about his practice and technique of performing Cleavage Sparing Mastectomies (CSMs) for four years.

In 2007, Spire was alerted by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, where Mr Paterson performed NHS surgery, to issues surrounding his work.

The independent review carried out by consultancy Verita announced there were a number of key events and missed opportunities at Spire Parkway in Solihull and Spire Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield leading to a failure to take action against the consultant surgeon and protect patient safety.

Mr Paterson, who was employed within the group 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 review said there was poor communication between the Trust and Spire about the Trust’s investigation into Mr Paterson.

Louise Hawkley, a specialist medical lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office is representing multiple private and NHS cases against Mr Paterson. 

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise relating to surgery claims.