Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden, is supporting calls for a Public Inquiry to take into account responses from all relevant authorities to help provide answers to hundreds of women affected by surgery carried out by suspended surgeon Ian Paterson. Mr Paterson is alleged to have performed over 1000 unnecessary, inappropriate or unregulated breast operations in local private and NHS hospitals from 1996 to 2010. Some cases concerned ‘cleavage sparing mastectomy’ (CSM), although Mr Paterson was told not to carry out this type of surgery in 2007.
Commenting, Caroline said: “I have been approached by solicitors acting for affected women in my constituency to support a Public Inquiry. This would involve all relevant authorities including the CQC, police, GMC and NMC. I have already contacted the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, about my concerns and I have challenged the NHS Trust as to why the surgeon’s practice was not better controlled between 1998 and 2007and why it took until 2011 to exclude Mr Paterson. I welcome the news that the NHS Trust are already undertaking an internal inquiry but I think that more needs to be done.
“While the police are continuing to investigate matters, I think it inappropriate to make a further statement on Mr Paterson but in principle I think a Public Inquiry would be a welcome step in finding answers for so many women and it would help to prevent unwanted or unsuitable surgery in future cases. I would like to know what my constituents feel, especially those who have been affected by breast cancer. Please contact me as follows:
Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP
631 Warwick Road
Solihull
B91 1AR
Or E-mail: caroline@carolinespelman.com”