Unknown breast surgery patients urged to come forward

In the press today is news of the £37 million in compensation payments which have been awarded to around 750 patients of the disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

Back in April, Paterson was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent, along with three other wounding charges relating to unnecessary treatment he performed over almost a twenty year period. He was originally sentenced to 15 years in jail, but this increased to 20 years last month by the Court of Appeal.

The collective fund of £37 million is to cover compensation and costs in relation to a group litigation order due to go to court October of this year. Spire Healthcare, who run a number of private hospitals in the West Midlands where Ian Paterson worked, will contribute £27.2 million to the fund with the remaining £10 million being provided by Paterson’s insurers and the Heart of England NHS Trust Foundation.

Ashtons’ Medical Negligence Partner, Sharon Allison, acted for a number of these patients and is urging any of Paterson’s victims who have not yet made a claim to make contact as soon as possible as part of the fund will account for any new claims made before October 2018.