Hunt pledges to hold inquiry into rogue surgeon

JEREMY HUNT has pledged to hold an inquiry into the “profoundly shocking” crimes of a “God complex” surgeon who mutilated hundreds of women.

The Health Secretary said that if the Government was returned, it would investigate the conduct of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson, 59, who was allowed to operate for more that a decade after concerns were first raised.

Paterson, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was convicted last week of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three of unlawful wounding involving 10 patients. He awaits his sentence.

The inquiry would hear from hundreds of patients and bereaved families and examine how he was allowed to prey on women, carrying out hundreds of needless and botched operations.

The trial heard that Paterson exaggerated or invented cancer risks and claimed payments for more expensive procedures. The NHS has settled more than 250 claims, but lawyers believe the number of victims at private and NHS hospitals is likely to exceed 1,000.

Any inquiry would examine how the surgeon was able to practice for years, even though he had been repeatedly warned by NHS managers about the techniques he employed.

Mr Hunt said: “The conviction of Ian Paterson, and recent disclosures about the seriousness and extent of his malpractice, are profoundly shocking. A highly qualified medical professional, with a duty of care for his patients, totally neglected that duty and instead performed unnecessary procedures …”

Setting up an inquiry panel, which would include senior doctors but would fall short of a full public inquiry, would be an early priority for a Conservative government, sources said.

Paterson, described by one of his victims as “a psychopath”, carried out more than 1,200 experimental “‘cleavage saving mastectomies” for the NHS. Since having the operations, which failed to remove sufficient tissue, 675 of his patients have died.