Privately-run hospitals ‘must do more to keep patients safe

The Royal College of Surgeons have said that privately-run hospitals must take more steps to ensure patient safety and to prevent surgeons like Ian Paterson from harming anyone.

Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being convicted of carrying out unnecessary breast surgery operations.

Surgeons say there should be wider access to information about consultants’ performances and that the private sector must collect and publish the same level of safety data on patients as the NHS.

President of The Royal College of Surgeons, Professor Derek Alderson, said that surgeons were “deeply shocked” by the case, which found Mr Paterson guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent. An independent inquiry into his conduct has heard evidence from over 150 patients, with more still to come forward.

Professor Alderson said the case showed the need for “an urgent review of how we assure safety standards in the independent sector.

“There is no doubt that Ian Paterson was a rogue individual. That said, the entire healthcare sector must do more to prevent someone like him from ever causing harm again.

“This starts with being able to collect and analyse good quality patient safety and outcomes data.

“There must be stronger oversight and protection for patients, regardless of whether they have their operation in an NHS hospital or in the independent sector.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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