Inquests into deaths of breast surgeon Ian Paterson's patients to cost more than £6.5 million

Words by Midlands Correspondent Stacey Foster and ITV News Producer Cat Dinneny

The inquests into disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson's patients are expected to cost more than £6.5 million, ITV News has learned.

The inquests, which are currently suspended, started in October last year and are examining the deaths of 62 women who were operated on by Paterson and later died of breast cancer.

So far, only one inquest has concluded, and it found that the woman in question wasn't even operated on by Paterson.

Now, an investigation into the cost of the inquests, obtained via Freedom of Information requests submitted by ITV News, has revealed:

• More than £6.5 million of taxpayers' money has been set aside for the inquests

• They were due to finish next year, but Birmingham City Council is allocating funds into 2028

• More than £2.5 million has already been spent, with only one inquest concluding so far

The costs all relate to the administration of the inquests, including fees for the coroner, legal counsel, solicitors and legal teams representing the NHS.

Shirley Moroney, whose sister Marie was operated on by Paterson and who died in 2008, said: "It's just shocking, and that's just the tip of the iceberg."

Paterson was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent, against 10 victims, at Nottingham Crown Court in 2017.

He was initially handed a 15-year prison term, but Court of Appeal judges increased his tariff to 20 years in 2018.

These inquests are now the fifth investigation into his practices following two independent reports, a criminal trial and one government inquiry.

Not a single inquest has been heard so far this year, with several hearings cancelled, leaving families in limbo.

Shirley added: "You're constantly living on the edge of when will this be over? The 17th and 18th March were going to be my opportunity to have Marie's case heard and cathartically let go of some of the pain.

"He's not in prison because of Marie [dying], and that's why we're at the Coroner's Court. Clearly somebody suspected there was something more to this than just Marie dying of breast cancer."

Paterson’s 14-year campaign of botched and unnecessary surgery was conducted at hospitals both public and private across Birmingham and Solihull.

In 2020, there was an inquiry which heard Paterson had been carrying out an unapproved version of a mastectomy, leaving some breast tissue behind.

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Four years later, around 650 cases of women who'd had the so-called cleavage sparing mastectomy were sent to the coroner over concerns they had died prematurely, of which 62 were opened.

Hearings started in October last year, but they've been paused since January over claims of bias and disagreements among the medical experts. Individual inquests are due to resume in June.

Dan Hudson's mother, Gillian, died of breast cancer in 2022. She had a cleavage sparing mastectomy performed by Ian Paterson.

He told ITV News: "How can you possibly justify spending £6.5 million for no reason? They must think there's a reason.

"The main issue is this is just going on and on and on and on. We're going to end up in a situation where potentially Ian Paterson comes out of prison and then what's to stop him just legging it?"

Paterson is currently due for release in 2027, but the Coroner’s verdict could lead to more charges against him, although, given the delays, that is seemingly a long way off.

Andrew Chalklen is one of those anxiously waiting to find out if his wife Melanie's death was premature because of her surgery.

The evidence has been heard in her case, but he won't hear the conclusion until all of the cases have been heard.

"There's probably been public pressure to hold the inquest anyway and from that point of view, maybe they just had to do it, " he told ITV News.

"But, if you're going to hold an inquest, I sincerely hope that things do come out of it."

Public and private hospitals Paterson worked for have already paid out millions of pounds in compensation.

Our investigation has also found that Spire Healthcare - which runs the private hospitals where Paterson operated - has set aside an additional £4.6 million for compensation for 'future claims and costs'. That's on top of the £13.1 million already paid out.

Spire Healthcare told us: “An additional £4.6m has been set aside to complete the on-going patient reviews and settle future claims and costs. Spire continually reviews the level of the fund's provision which is dependent on the amount and size of claims received and any new information gained.”

Birmingham City Council said: “A local authority is statutorily obliged to meet the costs of coroners for that area to carry out their functions. Birmingham City Council is in discussion with the Government regarding the costs of the Paterson Inquests.”

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