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A Panorama programme seeking to expose the wider failings of the private healthcare system aired last night (Monday 16 October) on BBC One.
The documentary, entitled ‘How Safe is your Operation?’ featured leading medical negligence lawyer Linda Millband from specialist firm Thompsons Solicitors, and followed the case of disgraced breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson. The Panorama investigation looked at whether private hospitals are doing too little to protect their patients, both in terms of the care given and accountability when things go wrong.
In May 2017, Mr Ian Paterson was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent in respect of his private practice at Spire Healthcare hospitals in the West Midlands. He was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment following a Court of Appeal hearing in August 2017.
“We were pleased to work with BBC Panorama on their investigation into one of the most pressing legal issues of today,” said Linda Millband, medical negligence expert at Thompsons Solicitors and lead solicitor on the civil case against Mr Paterson.'
| Thompsons has worked on the case against Mr Paterson for over five years to ensure that his hundreds of victims received the compensation, and crucially answers, they were fighting for., Source: Linda Millband |
“Our clients have now been given an opportunity to share their stories and express just how badly their private healthcare provider behaved towards them during the legal process.”
“Our PatientsBeforeProfits campaign is seeking new legislation so that private healthcare providers are required to offer the same duty of care towards patients, adequate insurance cover and carry out the same high standards of governance and audits as the NHS. At the moment, the private sector is failing its patients, as Panorama’s investigation so clearly showed,” Ms. Millband continued.