Known victims of disgraced surgeon Ian Stuart Paterson have been invited to meet with Sir Ian Kennedy at the St John’s Hotel on Warwick Road, Solihull on 13 March 2013 to discuss an ongoing review into NHS breast care services at the Solihull Hospital.

The Heart of England NHS Trust, which runs the site, launched the independent review after evidence of Mr Paterson’s widespread medical negligence came to light.

Paterson worked at a number of NHS hospitals in and around the West Midlands between 1994 and 2011, including the Solihull & Heartlands and Good Hope. Despite serious concerns dating back a number of years, Mr Paterson continued to perform breast surgery in the region until the General Medical Council imposed conditions on his practice in July 2011.

He is also currently subject to a large scale police investigation into the allegations that he performed hundreds of guideline-breaching ‘cleavage-sparring’ mastectomies on breast cancer patients while working for the NHS and, in some instances during private practice at the Spire Parkway and Little Aston Hospitals, totally unnecessary breast surgery on cancer-free women.

It is only in recent months that the scope and scale of his negligent behaviour has come to the fore.

To date, Spire Healthcare – which manages the hospitals where Mr Paterson practiced privately – has yet to announce any such investigation or review of its practices or procedures.

Thompsons Solicitors are currently acting on behalf of over 400 women who were treated by Mr Paterson, both privately and on the NHS.

Linda Millband, senior medical negligence solicitor

Linda Millband, senior medical negligence solicitor at the firm, said: “We welcome the Trust’s ongoing commitment to a transparent enquiry process and one which has the feedback of those patients, many of whom are our clients, who were directly affected being at the heart of it.

“We have spoken with our clients and encouraged them to take part in this process and urge any other women who fear they may have been affected to also take up this chance to be heard.”

It is thought that the Heart of England NHS Trust has now reviewed the care plans of those patients who were thought to have been affected, however Thompsons would urge any women who have not yet come forward to do so now so that their voices may be heard.

Those wishing to seek further advice should call 08000 224 224