Hunt plans inquiry into disgraced surgeon

Jeremy Hunt has said an inquiry will be held into disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson, who is believed to have carried out needless operations on hundreds of patients.

Paterson lied to patients and exaggerated or invented the risk of cancer to convince them to go under the knife, possibly to improve his earnings.

He was convicted last week of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three of unlawful wounding against 10 patients after a seven-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

A statement from the Health Secretary – issued by his spokesman, not the Department of Health, because of the upcoming general election – said that if the Conservative Government returned to power, it would shine a closer light on Paterson’s work to ensure lessons can be learnt.

But Linda Millband, of Thompsons Solicitors, representing more than 350 of Paterson’s private clients, said the issue should not be used as a “political football”.

She added: “We have long called for an investigation into Mr Paterson’s practices but any inquiry, however welcome, shouldn’t be used as a stick with which to beat the NHS.

“The findings of any inquiry must be made public.”

Paterson, 59, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was released on conditional bail ahead of sentencing later this month.