Settlement for private patients of Ian Paterson approved

Around 750 patients who had been treated by Paterson in his private practice will finally receive compensation. Much of this fund (£27.2 million) has come from the private firm, Spire Healthcare, which afforded Paterson practising privileges at Spire Parkway hospital in the West Midlands.

The remaining £10 million comes from Paterson's insurers and the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT). The Trust has already paid out compensation totalling nearly £18 million in damages and legal costs to patients who had been treated by Paterson while he was working for the NHS.

Before she joined Shoosmiths as a medical negligence partner Kashmir Uppal had been instrumental in pursuing claims on behalf of those injured by Paterson since 2010 and she continues to represent women treated by Paterson privately at Spire Healthcare. She commented:

‘I am pleased that this settlement has been agreed and approved without the need to put the distressed clients I represent through the trauma of another trial and bring an end to a protracted period of litigation and anxiety for those whose lives he has ruined and whose trust he abused.’

Kashmir continued:

‘Of course, no amount of money will ever heal the physical and mental scars these women and men have suffered, but they are relieved and I am equally happy that their long wait and uncertainty about whether they would be compensated for the pain Paterson caused them is now finally over.’

The approved settlement now concludes all current and known claims against Spire Healthcare and its co-defendants, but a portion of the fund is to be set aside to provide compensation for any former patient of Mr Paterson who has not yet brought a claim against Spire Healthcare and the other defendants, provided they do so prior to 30 October 2018.

Kashmir concludes:

‘It is still important that all the managerial failings, which allowed Paterson to do what he did for so long, are addressed to make sure something like this can never happen again and I remain convinced that this can only be achieved through a public inquiry. It is equally crucial to address the discrepancy in access to justice for patients injured, often to the same degree and by the same surgeon, when that harm is caused in private practice rather than the NHS.’

Image above: Kashmir Uppal, medical negligence partner at Shoosmiths.

Ends

A video describing the experience of Lesley Cuthbert, a client of Shoosmiths whom Paterson treated privately, can be seen below.

The video or segments of the video may be freely used without copyright restrictions.

For further information or broadcast quality versions of the video please contact please contact:

Allan Bisset, Shoosmiths
T : 03700 866736
E : [email protected]

Additional Media Coverage for Shoosmiths on Ian Paterson

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024

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