Claim against breast surgeon Ian Paterson
If you have been affected by the former breast surgeon Ian Paterson, you could claim for compensation today with Leigh Day.
Former breast surgeon Ian Paterson put many patients’ lives at risk through unnecessary operations and unapproved techniques. If you were one of his patients, you may be able to claim compensation.
Paterson was suspended in 2011 and jailed in 2017, having been found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding. In the years following, close to 5,500 of his patients were contacted by health officials to review their care.
Now, a further 1,500 will have their treatment investigated after private healthcare company Spire Healthcare discovered an old IT database from over 20 years ago.
It can be shocking and horrifying to discover you were exposed to such actions. Convicted surgeon Ian Paterson treated thousands of patients between 1994 and 2011. There could be many more patients who may be able to claim compensation for his malpractice.
Complete the Ian Paterson enquiry form if you believe you may be able to claim.
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What was the Ian Paterson inquiry?
Ian Paterson was employed by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust – since taken over by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. Paterson also had practising privileges at private hospitals Spire Parkway in Solihull near Coventry, and Spire Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham.
An independent inquiry was set up to look into the Ian Paterson case. In February 2020, the report highlighted various recommendations relating to:
- Information to patients
- Consent
- Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings
- Patient recall and ongoing care for all of Paterson’s patients by the NHS Trust and Spire Healthcare.
Some patients did receive compensation from Spire Healthcare, but it was criticised as it failed to contact every patient affected by Paterson’s actions.
After Paterson’s conviction a report in the Independent on 11th April 2021 also identified an agreement between the healthcare company and 40 law firms preventing any of his new victims from bringing claims for compensation.
The Ian Paterson inquiry reported a series of failures across the healthcare system and ended with 15 recommendations to improve government and health sector bodies.
Read the Paterson inquiry online.
Who can bring an Ian Paterson claim?
Anyone who was a patient of the surgeon Ian Paterson may be able to bring a claim. Even if you didn’t experience a physical injury, you might still be eligible to claim – especially if you received unnecessary or inappropriate procedures, treatment or surgery.
The quickest and easiest way to find out if you can bring a claim is to complete the Ian Paterson enquiry form. One of our team will listen to your case and assess your eligibility, informing you whether you can bring a claim or not.
How much could my Ian Paterson claim be worth?
It’s believed Ian Paterson worked with more than 11,000 patients during his employment by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust at Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham. Anyone who was a patient of the breast surgeon Ian Paterson may be entitled to compensation.
Even if you didn’t experience a physical injury, you might still be eligible to claim – especially if you received unnecessary or inappropriate procedures, treatment or surgery.
The amount of compensation you could be entitled to will vary on an individual basis. It will generally depend on your:
- Type of surgery or procedures
- Extent of physical injuries
- Emotional distress
In 2017, more than 750 patients of former surgeon Ian Paterson received compensation from a £37 million fund. In 2021, another fund was created to provide further compensation.
Claims could range from hundreds of pounds to six figure sums, depending on the circumstances.
How do I claim against Ian Paterson?
To start your claim against Ian Paterson, fill in our online enquiry form. We will process your application and contact you in due course. Or you can call 020 7650 1200 and speak directly to one of our team.
Simply enter your contact details and one of our specialist team members will be in touch to discuss your case. It’s also possible to write a message and attach any supporting documents (such as hospital letters). These can help our team assess your eligibility and provide proof if you decide to claim.
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Ian Paterson FAQs
If you want more information about the Ian Paterson case, find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about it below.
In 2017 the former breast surgeon Ian Paterson was jailed for 20 years. He was found guilty of carrying out harmful and unnecessary surgery on more than 1,000 women over a period of 14 years . He is currently serving his 20-year sentence and in 2021 lost a bid to challenge the convictions at the Court of Appeal.
Ian Paterson was suspended by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT), which ran Solihull Hospital, in 2011. He was then suspended by Spire later that same year. However, he was not convicted and sentenced to prison until April 2017 after a formal trial.
The Paterson inquiry is a government-led report reviewing the circumstances around the former surgeon’s malpractice and unnecessary surgery. It aimed to uncover what had happened and how, to provide recommendations that will improve the safety and care of patients in the future.
Anyone who believes they were a patient of former surgeon Ian Paterson could be eligible to bring a claim. It’s believed he worked with more than 11,000 patients during his employment by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust at Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.
If you were ever treated by Paterson, you may be able to claim compensation – even if you never underwent surgery. Fill in our enquiry form and one of our specialist team will assess your eligibility and be in touch with the next steps.
The amount of compensation you could receive will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. This can include:
- The surgery or procedures you underwent
- Any physical injuries caused
- Emotional distress
Compensation from a £37 million fund has already been awarded to more than 750 former patients of Paterson.
There is no fixed timescale for how long it could take to receive compensation. We realise this can be frustrating. However, our team working on the case will keep you regularly updated and can provide you with a rough estimate based on your circumstances.
If you were treated by Ian Paterson between the years of 1994 and 2011, you may be eligible. Any woman who underwent surgery at Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham under his recommendations could have a claim.
The easiest way is to fill in an enquiry form. One of our team will assess your eligibility and let you know. Any supporting evidence could help – such as hospital receipts, documents and more that show you were one of his patients.
At Leigh Day, we act for affected clients on a “no win no fee” basis. This ensures you get at least 75% of any compensation you may be awarded if the claim is successful. You don’t need to make any up-front payment or similar to bring the claim.
Yes – more than 750 former patients of Ian Paterson have been awarded compensation from a £37 million fund set up. In 2021, another fund was created to compensate more of his victims. In recent years, Spire Healthcare has contacted more than 5,500 former patients. Now, after uncovering a new database, a further 1,500 patients have been recalled by health officials to review their care.
How can Leigh Day help you?
We listen to you
One of our specialist team will listen to your story, acting in a sympathetic and compassionate manner
Experienced legal firm
At Leigh Day, we have more than 30 years’ specialist medical negligence experience you can trust
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We can demonstrate our unrivalled experience working across many breast cancer claims
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