THE FOUNDER of a support group for victims of Ian Paterson is calling for those who have just been recalled to join them.
Patterson victim Sarah Jane Downing set up the group before Paterson’s case went to court so his former private patients could support each other, share experiences and be updated on the pending case.
Almost four years since Paterson’s conviction the group is still going strong and it is calling for Spire Healthcare, where Paterson performed surgery, patients who have been recalled to join them.
Sarah Jane said: “I am painfully aware of how traumatising it is to discover that a surgery you had been assured was lifesaving and expertly done was in fact wrongful or unnecessary so I want to reach out to all those facing their recall now to join me and my group.
“Since the Spire recall of 5,500 patients at Christmas there have been a number of people who have contacted our support groups.
“Thankfully now that Judge Whipple has released our solicitors from the 2017 Court Order those people will now have access to the solicitors who fought for us so that their cases can be assessed fully and fairly within the context of all that was revealed previously.”
In 2017, Paterson was jailed for 20 years after being convicted 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.
At the time, it was believed Spire Healthcare had contacted all of Paterson’s victims, but after an Independent Inquiry published a report in February 2020, it was revealed that the initial recall was insufficient.
As a result thousands of newly identified former patients of Paterson have now been written to by Spire Healthcare and it is expected many of them will be eligible to make a compensation claim.
The group also holds fundraising coffee mornings to raise vital money for Macmillan Cancer Support – providing a way for victims to ’empower’ themselves by helping fellow cancer patients.
To find our more about the group or get involved, e-mail Sarah Jane at: [email protected]
