A disgraced breast cancer surgeon has today (28 April 2017) been found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of multiple counts of wounding patients with intent. 

Mr Ian Paterson, who performed unnecessary and incorrect operations on over 1,000 women and men has been convicted of criminally injuring patients at two private healthcare hospitals in the West Midlands. 

Thompsons Solicitors, the medical negligence law firm instrumental in uncovering the extent of the surgeon’s malpractice in 2009 said they were ‘delighted’ with the verdict. 

Linda Millband, national lead lawyer of the Thompsons Solicitors medical negligence team said: “As the lead solicitors acting for people affected by Mr Paterson, we are delighted that the jury has returned a guilty verdict at his criminal trial. Given the scale of Paterson’s negligence, it is the only verdict that could have been reached.” 

To date, Thompsons has secured compensation totalling £1,987,000 for 89 NHS patients treated by Mr Paterson at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham, unbelievably however, many private patients are still awaiting compensation.  

As the lead solicitors acting for people affected by Mr Paterson, we are delighted that the jury has returned a guilty verdict at his criminal trial. Given the scale of Paterson’s negligence, it is the only verdict that could have been reached.

Linda Millband national lead lawyer of the Thompsons Solicitors medical negligence team

The firm is currently pursuing civil cases for around 350 patients who undertook treatment privately at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston. 

“We are determined to secure appropriate compensation for every single one of our clients, some of whom found the courage to come forward only as recently as four weeks ago.  Spire needs to face up to its responsibilities, because they let him operate well after he was suspended by the NHS. This is a dangerous regulatory loophole*,” continued Ms. Millband. 

Rachel Butler, who was told she needed ducts removed from her breasts by the surgeon in 2005, heard from the prosecution that her surgery had been entirely unnecessary. 

Ian Paterson has been found guilty of multiple counts of wounding with intent.

Ms Butler, now 41, said: “It has been a long and trying battle, but it is worth it to see Paterson finally being convicted of his horrendous crimes and the team at Thompsons has been unwavering in its support. He has ruined the lives of hundreds of men and women like me, some of whom are no longer with us because of his incompetence and greed. 

“We are still waiting to be financially compensated for what has happened to us, and we demand that Spire now takes seriously the responsibility it has to me, and all of the people they’ve let down.” 

*Thompsons argue that the devastation wreaked by Mr Paterson was compounded by the Spire Group's shabby treatment of their former patients when they came forward to complain. In response the firm is launching an investigative campaign – Patients Before Profits – to explore how to close loopholes and drive private health providers to ‘level up’ to ensure private patients are guaranteed the same level and speed of response as those being treated on the NHS.