The Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland supports call for inquiry into the Ian Paterson case

The recent events surrounding the conviction of the general surgeon Ian Paterson for wounding with intent in connection with breast surgery in both his NHS and private practice have raised many concerns amongst the UK surgical community. BAPS as an organisation is part of the Surgical Forum of Surgeons in Great Britain and Ireland and fully supports the statement released today and reproduced here.

Professor Mark Davenport
President of BAPS on behalf of BAPS members

The statement from The Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland

The Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland says that surgeon Ian Paterson’s practice was unacceptable and raises concerns about the practice of surgery across the British Isles, and has supported the call for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case.

The recent publicity attending the Nottingham trial and conviction of Solihull surgeon Ian Paterson is a matter of grave concern to the whole surgical community. It raises concerns about the practice of surgery in the British Isles. Although this case primarily involved the treatment of women with breast conditions the principles of patient safety and multidisciplinary team working are equally as important in all surgical disciplines. The public deserve reassurance that surgeons strive to work for the benefit of our patients and recognise that this aim of excellence, safety and quality in care remains at the core of surgical practice today. It is also evident that society is changing and Surgeons are rightly being challenged about their practices by an increasingly knowledgeable and questioning public. Rightly, in our view, surgical outcomes for individual surgeons are now in the public domain. We as surgeons need to reassure patients that decisions are based on multidisciplinary team working. No surgeon should be working in isolation.

It appears that Ian Paterson was permitted to practice in a way that resisted documented challenge from both medical and nursing colleagues and others in both the public and private sector. His practice was not subject to peer review or ongoing audit and we as a Forum consider this wholly unacceptable.

The Surgical Forum is committed to promoting the culture of patient safety where team working is accepted as an integral part of daily life. Team working, in the sense that the focus is on doing the right thing for the patient and accepting that other members of the team can question and challenge in the name of safety and quality.

On behalf of the profession of surgery, the Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland support the call for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this case and the reasons for the delay in stopping unacceptable practice.

Ends

For media enquiries ring Siân Evans 020 8674 8921 / 07752 414433

The Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland Chir Ian Ritchie is available for interview.

Members of the Surgical Forum of Great Britain & Ireland:

Mr Ian Ritchie, Chair The Surgical Forum of Great Britian and Ireland

Mr Brian Bingham, British Association of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery

Mr Graham Cooper, Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery

Professor Mark Davenport, British Association of Paediatric Surgeons

Professor David Galloway, President, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Professor John Hyland, President, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Professor Michael Lavelle-Jones, President, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Professor John MacFie, President of the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations

Mr Patrick Magennis, British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

Mr Paul May, Society of British Neurological Surgeons

Mr Kieran O’Flynn, British Association of Urological Surgeons

Professor Rowan Parks, Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland

Mr Ian Ritchie, Chair of the Surgical Forum of Great Britain & Ireland

Professor Robert Sayers, Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Professor Philip Turner, British Orthopaedic Association

Mr David Ward, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

The Surgical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland is composed of the four Royal Surgical Colleges of the British Isles and the ten specialty surgical associations. The Forum speaks with a common voice for the whole surgical community on topics of general interest to the profession of surgery and to the public.