THOMPSONS Solicitors, the medical negligence law firm instrumental in uncovering the extent of the surgeon’s malpractice – over 1,000 unnecessary and incorrect operations – 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.
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.
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.”
