Mr Ian Paterson – Breast surgery malpractice

Ian Paterson was a consultant breast surgeon in the West Midlands, working in both NHS and private practice at Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Spire Hospital Parkway and Spire Hospital Little Aston.

From 1993 until he was suspended in 2011, Mr Paterson treated thousands of patients in both the NHS and private sector, carrying out needless breast surgeries and using unapproved techniques for breast cancer.  It has subsequently come to light that Mr Paterson’s malpractice may have extended to general surgical procedures as well as breast surgery.

Mr Paterson is serving a 20-year prison sentence and around 750 patients have already received compensation for injuries caused by him. A new fund has set up by Spire Healthcare to enable more patients to bring compensation claims for unnecessary or inappropriate surgery.

“We know that the criminal trial related to breast surgery cases only. These general surgery cases, many of which have had equally devastating consequences, were not considered. So in addition to the civil cases, perhaps we should we be looking at further criminal charges in relation to all these unnecessary or sub-standard general surgery procedures that he carried out?”

Kashmir Uppal – Notable lawyer who actioned first civil case against Mr Ian Paterson

What did Ian Paterson breast surgeon do?

He performed unregulated cosmetic procedures, “cleavage-sparing” mastectomies, in which cancerous tissue was left behind, meaning the disease returned in many of his patients.

Other patients had surgery they simply did not need after he advised them that they had pre-cancerous breast lumps. Often the lumps were harmless, but patients were subjected to operations that were unnecessary, leaving them with physical and mental scarring.

What other surgery did Mr Ian Paterson undertake?

Ian Paterson carried out many general surgical procedures as well as breast surgery – many patients recalled by Spire Healthcare were not previously aware that their surgery had been unnecessary or inappropriate. One of those patients was Craig Timmins, who was referred to Paterson by his GP in 1995 with a suspected hernia. An initial operation by Paterson was carried out, but later reviews found the surgical technique used was not appropriate, requiring further surgical interventions. Mr Timmins and his wife are now left wondering if their inability to have children could have been a consequence of Paterson’s botched surgery.

How can Fletchers help?

Kashmir Uppal, a specialist medical negligence solicitor at Fletchers, investigated and brought the first civil case against Mr Paterson in 2010 and was the lead solicitor in the Paterson claims before she joined Fletchers. She has spent much of her career settling many clinical negligence cases for his patients.

Contact us for a confidential legal consultation about the treatment you received from Ian Paterson.

*From 29th August 2025, the Shoosmiths Serious Injury team became part of Fletchers Solicitors. This marked an exciting new chapter as we strengthened our expertise and welcomed highly experienced colleagues who share our commitment to outstanding client care. Read the full announcement

Press Coverage featuring our experts and Mr Paterson

Solihull Observer – Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson bid to appeal conviction as more victims appear – 19 August 2021

The Independent – New compensation scheme for victims of rogue surgeon to be set up by private hospital group – 27 July 2021

Solihull Observer – Paterson victims could get more help following court judgement – 22 July 2021

Birmingham Mail – New compensation avalanche as 5,500 victims of disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson recalled – 21 July 2021

Worcester News – Hundreds more victims of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson could be in line for compensation – 21 July 2021

Dudley News – Victims of West Midlands breast surgeon given new hope – 21 July 2021

The Independent – Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal – 24 March 2021

CBS News – 11,000 cancer patients told to get rechecked after treatment by rogue surgeon Ian Paterson – 7 February 2020

BBC News – Ian Paterson victims’ families call for manslaughter charges – 4 February 2020

The Times – Victims of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson awarded £37m – 14 September 2017

Express – Judge approves £37m fund for victims of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson – 27 September 2017

Daily Mail – Greed, arrogance – or evil? Why DID the breast surgeon butcher so many? – 3 May 2017

LBC – Ian Paterson inquiry: ‘Culture of denial’ allowed rogue surgery to continue – 4 February 2020

The Guardian – Inquiry announced into case of rogue surgeon Ian Paterson – 7 December 2017

The Telegraph – Rogue breast cancer surgeon sentenced to 15 years’ prison for ‘butchering’ patients – 31 May 2017

BBC Radio 4 – Breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson (radio show) – 3 May 2017

ITV Central TV coverage – September 2017:

BBC Midlands TV coverage – September 2017: