(Alliance News) - Private healthcare company Spire Healthcare Group PLC said Monday it has suspended one of its doctors after concerns emerged over his work at a Leeds hospital.
Mike Walsh was suspended in April 2018 after close to 50 of his patients were recalled.
A Spire spokesperson said: "After concerns were raised about Walsh, an investigation was started in April 2018, and he was suspended immediately. We asked the Royal College of Surgeons to assist with this investigation and have shared the findings with the [Care Quality Commission] and the [General Medical Council].
"Where we have identified concerns about the care a patient received, we have invited the patient to an appointment with an independent surgeon to review their treatment. This is a complex case and the review is on-going.
The BBC said "details emerged" after an independent inquiry into Ian Paterson - now in jail.
Paterson previously worked at Spire and was found guilty in 2017 of intentionally wounding his patients through unnecessary and unregulated mastectomies.
Additionally, Habib Rahman, an orthopaedic consultant suspended by Spire in January 2019, has had more than 200 patients recalled following a Royal College of Surgeons investigation into potentially unnecessary procedures. At that time, Spire said it was not expecting to to have a material financial exposure to the recall.
The spokesperson for Spire said the company "reiterates its sincere apologies to those patients who have been affected by the treatment they received from Walsh" and urged patients treated by Walsh to contact the Leeds hospital.
Shares in Spire were down 0.2% at 129.61 pence in London on Monday.
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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Spire Healthcare (SPI)