Rogue surgeon's crimes may be 'tip of the iceberg'

Thousands of women who suffered at the hands of the disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson may never get their stories heard, the sister of one of his victims fears.

An inquest, which began in October, is examining the deaths of 62 cancer patients who were treated by Paterson over a 14-year period, at NHS and private hospitals in the West Midlands.

But Shirley Moroney, whose sister Marie Pinfield died in 2008 at the age of 50, thinks that number could represent a fraction of those who were affected.

Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017, after being convicted of wounding patients with botched and unnecessary operations.

Ms Moroney, whose sister was treated at Solihull Hospital, now runs a support group for his victims.

"The reason I set up the support group is we're all going to go through a very challenging time," she explained.

"Ultimately, the person that we feel has affected the life of our loved one [is] on screen, in the coroner's court, and you have to go through your particular case meticulously.

"And it's heartbreaking."

Ms Moroney said she was worried the cases being examined represented "the tip of the iceberg".

"I think the 60-odd women that they're looking at doesn't really cut it for me," she said.

"The hundreds that have died would have died of metastasized cancer – the thing that they're looking for is, 'Did it reoccur in the place where he operated?'.

"We all know that the cancer, once it's free to do its own thing, it can go anywhere in the body.

"But at the end of the day, they're looking at these cases and I am eternally grateful."

Paterson could be eligible for parole in as little as two years.

Dan Hudson received a letter six months ago telling him the death of his mother Gillian in 2022 was being examined as part of the Paterson inquest.

"I would be very concerned that he is going to get released in 2027 and we're still just scratching the surface of what's going on," he said.

"And what actually happens in that scenario? Is there a scenario where... that's just the end of it?"

Ms Moroney shares those concerns.

"We did successfully prevent him from being re-categorised (moved to a lower security prison) by putting a petition together," she said.

"And I would continue to put pressure on anybody who will listen, to try and keep him in prison until we've got this process finished."

While the inquest is looking at the deaths of Paterson's patients, it will also examine whether systemic failings allowed him to get away with his crimes for so long.

"That's what we've got to focus on," said Ms Moroney. "And try to understand how it is that one person can operate on thousands of women and get it wrong.

"And yet nobody did anything? We've got to keep banging the drum."

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said it "wholly condemned" Paterson's actions and the "appalling treatment" of his patients between 1993 and 2011.

"Our thoughts remain with the patients and their families, who suffered due to the horrendous treatment they experienced from Ian Paterson," the trust said in a statement.

"We will continue to fully support those affected and assist with HM Coroner's investigations."

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