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| Breast cancer patients claim compensation from hospitals | Breast cancer patients claim compensation from hospitals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Women who underwent botched and unnecessary breast cancer operations are taking legal action against three hospitals in the West Midlands. | |
| The group of about 90 women are making compensation claims against the Heart of England NHS Trust and Spire Healthcare, their solicitor said. | The group of about 90 women are making compensation claims against the Heart of England NHS Trust and Spire Healthcare, their solicitor said. |
| The operations, carried out by surgeon Ian Paterson between 2004 and 2007, were found to breach guidelines. | The operations, carried out by surgeon Ian Paterson between 2004 and 2007, were found to breach guidelines. |
| He has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC). | He has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC). |
| Mr Paterson is accused of performing "cleaving sparing" mastectomies at Solihull Hospital and two private hospitals owned by Spire Healthcare in Solihull and Little Aston, Staffordshire. | |
| Heart of England NHS Trust found in 2007 that the procedure, which left a small amount of tissue for cosmetic reasons, breached national guidelines because of the risk of the cancer returning. | Heart of England NHS Trust found in 2007 that the procedure, which left a small amount of tissue for cosmetic reasons, breached national guidelines because of the risk of the cancer returning. |
| Mr Paterson is also being investigated by the GMC over claims he may have also unnecessarily removed lumps from patients' breasts. | Mr Paterson is also being investigated by the GMC over claims he may have also unnecessarily removed lumps from patients' breasts. |
| Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing the women, said it had already settled one claim for compensation from the NHS Trust. | Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing the women, said it had already settled one claim for compensation from the NHS Trust. |
| On-going investigation | On-going investigation |
| Solicitor Kashmir Uppal said: "[These women] deserved the best medical care but have been let down by Mr Paterson. | Solicitor Kashmir Uppal said: "[These women] deserved the best medical care but have been let down by Mr Paterson. |
| "What we're trying to do is secure some compensation for them to move forward with their lives." | "What we're trying to do is secure some compensation for them to move forward with their lives." |
| Gail Boichat, from Lichfield, had a mastectomy at Good Hope Hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, in 1995 after being told she had cancer, but in February she found out she never had the disease at all. | Gail Boichat, from Lichfield, had a mastectomy at Good Hope Hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, in 1995 after being told she had cancer, but in February she found out she never had the disease at all. |
| She said: "It's knocked my confidence, you can't feel good about yourself because you've got that scar. | She said: "It's knocked my confidence, you can't feel good about yourself because you've got that scar. |
| "You think 'I never needed to look like this' but I've got the support of my husband and family and that gets me through." | "You think 'I never needed to look like this' but I've got the support of my husband and family and that gets me through." |
| Aresh Anwar, Medical Director for Heart of England Foundation Trust, said Mr Paterson had not carried out any procedures at the hospital since May 2011. | Aresh Anwar, Medical Director for Heart of England Foundation Trust, said Mr Paterson had not carried out any procedures at the hospital since May 2011. |
| "The Trust has invited all of Mr Paterson's patients who underwent a mastectomy to see an alternative surgeon for a review of their treatment and care," he said. | "The Trust has invited all of Mr Paterson's patients who underwent a mastectomy to see an alternative surgeon for a review of their treatment and care," he said. |
| Spire Healthcare said it was continuing to investigate the practice of Mr Paterson in conjunction with the GMC and the NHS Trust. | Spire Healthcare said it was continuing to investigate the practice of Mr Paterson in conjunction with the GMC and the NHS Trust. |
| A spokesman for the group said: "Supported by a team of independent consultant breast surgeons, we are reviewing the medical records of Ian Paterson's patients who underwent specific procedures for benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions." | A spokesman for the group said: "Supported by a team of independent consultant breast surgeons, we are reviewing the medical records of Ian Paterson's patients who underwent specific procedures for benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions." |