A FURTHER 11 inquests are to be opened as part of a coroner’s investigation into dozens of deaths inked to convicted breast surgeon Ian Paterson.
At a pre-inquest hearing last month Judge Richard Foster, who has been appointed to undertake the inquests, said he and his team have reviewed 417 cases of former patients where breast cancer had been listed as a cause of death in part one of the death certificate.
A total of 27 of those have resulted in inquests being opened and adjourned.
A statement on behalf of the coroner’s investigation said the inquest will be opened and adjourned on Friday (July 14).
The statement added: “Preliminary investigations under section 1(7) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 have been carried out to identify whether there is reason to suspect that any former patients of Mr Paterson died an unnatural death as a result his care and treatment.
“Following preliminary investigations, Richard Foster who is appointed as HM Coroner to conduct these investigations believes there is evidence to have reason to suspect that some of those deaths may be unnatural.
“Preliminary investigations are ongoing into the deaths of other patients of Mr Paterson, and it is anticipated that further inquests will be opened in due course.”
The next of kin of former patients of Paterson have been asked to come forward and contact the solicitors to the inquest via the coroner’s Paerson investigation website here.
Paterson is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence after being convicted in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding against ten patients.
The consultant breast surgeon, whose victims run into the hundreds, worked at hospitals run by the Heart of England NHS Trust (HEFT) and also practiced privately at Bupa hospitals in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, latterly run by Spire Healthcare.
Another pre inquest review hearing is expected to be held later this year or early next year with final hearings in late 2024.
