Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - At least 5,500 former patients of the disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson are being written to by Spire Healthcare Group PLC, in a move welcomed by campaigners.
Thousands of letters are being sent out by the private provider, which was criticised by an independent inquiry at the start of the year for not doing enough to contact former patients.
Paterson is currently serving a 20-year-prison sentence after being found guilty of wounding patients by carrying out unnecessary surgery on men and women.
The surgeon carried out unapproved "cleavage-sparing" mastectomies on patients leaving behind breast tissue and risking a return of cancer.
He carried out breast and general surgery, treating more than 11,000 patients in total.
Paterson was employed by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, since taken over by another NHS trust, but had practising privileges in the independent sector at Spire Parkway, Solihull, and Spire Little Aston in Birmingham.
In September 2017, more than 750 patients treated by Paterson received compensation payouts from a GBP37 million fund.
The independent Paterson Inquiry into the issues raised, published in February, found that many of Glasgow-born Paterson's patients were "lied to, deceived or exploited", though the consultant maintains his innocence.
Over the summer the Birmingham coroner opened inquests into the deaths of several of Paterson's former patients who have since died, and is investigating a total of 23 such cases.
A total of seven inquests have been opened to date, into deaths which "may have been caused or contributed to by acts or omissions in the treatment provided by Paterson".
Spire Healthcare is writing to patients who were seen by the surgeon between 1993 and 2011 and has set up a freephone telephone line for those receiving a letter.
The independent inquiry led by Right Reverend Graham James, ex Bishop of Norwich, made 15 recommendations.
Among them was a call for HEFT's successor NHS trust, University Hospitals Birmingham, and Spire to check all Paterson's patients had been recalled, with the private provider asked to "mirror" NHS arrangements by offering ongoing care, if necessary.
UHB has since reviewed all surviving patients, offering them treatment plans where applicable.
Deborah Douglas, of Solihull Breast Friends, has been driving the push for a recall of Spire patients and welcomed the health provider's latest announcement.
She added a virtual call was also going ahead between herself, other Paterson patient representatives and Spire before Christmas to discuss the recall.
Douglas said she had been in touch with Spire regularly throughout the year, adding the private provider had assured her it was writing to all patients who had a "touch-point" with the surgeon.
"I welcome a robust recall," she said, speaking on Friday – 17 years to the day she was operated on by Paterson.
She added: "Letters have never before been sent to those people.
"There won't be a physical recall, but they will be offered a virtual meeting initially and then they can arrange any follow-up treatment."
Douglas said: "Equally, it is sad for those who have since died.
"Just last week, I had a man whose wife died a few years ago, who was never recalled.
"He had taken out a loan to pay for her treatment.
"After he looked at her medical notes for the mastectomy, he saw she had been left with margins and breast tissue.
"It's so sad."
Spire said anyone who had received a letter, or simply if they were seen by Paterson but had not been contacted, could ring its freephone helpline on 0800 085 8130, and speak to a specialist about their treatment.
The helpline is running from 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 6pm on Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday.
Alternatively, patients can email spirehealthcarehelplineianpaterson@spirehealthcare.com.
By Richard Vernalls, PA
source: PA
Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
