New fund for more potential victims of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson

A new fund is being set up for other potential victims of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

Patients who believe they might have been affected are being urged to come forward and seek compensation.

Paterson is serving a 20-year-prison sentence after being found guilty of wounding patients by carrying out unnecessary surgery on men and women.

The surgeon carried out unapproved "cleavage-sparing" mastectomies on patients leaving behind breast tissue and risking a return of cancer. He carried out breast and general surgery, treating more than 11,000 patients in total.

Last year Spire Healthcare was criticised by an independent inquiry for not doing enough to contact former patients, and the private provider subsequently wrote to at least 5,500 former patients of Paterson.

Thompsons Solicitors, the law firm which previously acted as the lead litigator for victims, said it had been asked to manage the new fund and to represent additional victims of Paterson's crimes.

Paterson was employed by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust - since taken over by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust - but also had practising privileges in the independent sector at Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.

Cheryl Iommi, a previous recipient of compensation after having three unnecessary lumpectomies performed, urged others who think they might have been victims to come forward.

Thompsons said Spire Healthcare will be putting "a substantial sum" into the new fund to compensate those who come forward from the latest recall, and advised anyone who thinks they might have been affected to contact them.

In September 2017, more than 750 patients treated by Paterson received compensation pay-outs from a £37 million fund.