Judge approves £37 million settlement for victims of Ian Paterson, disgraced breast surgeon

A Judge in the High Court yesterday approved a multi-million pound settlement for hundreds of victims of the disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson.  Court approval was required as Mr Paterson is deemed to not have legal capacity to provide instructions as to any settlement.

Mrs Justice Whipple expressed her ‘heartfelt’ sympathy to those whose trust was ‘betrayed’ by Paterson.  She said in her ruling on Wednesday that the ‘physical pain and mental anguish’ his patients suffered ‘cannot be understated’.  She also added ‘I pay tribute to their resilience in the face of such adversity’.

The settlement was approved in the civil action claim for damages brought on behalf of Mr Paterson’s former private patients.  Paterson left his victims scarred and disfigured, and mentally tormented.  Some of his victims sadly died.  This settlement will go some way to try to heal the wounds for the victims and their families, although it will not eradicate the wrong done to them.

This formally ended years of litigation for over 750 patients, which was due to go to trial next month and was set to last for a number of weeks.  These patients will get a pay out from the sum, which also makes provision for other claims.  Had the case gone to trial there would have been risks on all parties, together with the possibility of appeals.

Paterson was convicted by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding against 10 private patients.  He was originally sentenced to 15 years in May, but this term was increased to 20 years by Court of Appeal Judges in August.

Spire Healthcare which runs private hospitals in the West Midlands where Paterson worked will contribute £27.2 million to the total.  A further 10 million is to be provided by Paterson’s insurers and his former employers, the Heart of England NHS Trust.

Alsters Kelley solicitors have for a number of years been handling claims on behalf of 12 Claimants which are included in the settlement.  Cordelia Barnes, Litigation Executive from the Clinical Negligence Department said, “We have been working with the Barristers and the legal team of the lead cases to help to achieve settlement. Our clients have said that they are very pleased that this litigation has finally come to an end. We have also settled claims for clients who were treated by Mr Paterson on the NHS.”