Breast surgeon behind unnecessary surgeries has his pension revoked | Great Britain | News

A rogue breast surgeon who performed unnecessary operations on more than 1,000 patients will lose his £1million pension.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has reportedly decided to strip Ian Paterson of his taxpayer-funded pension – using rules that allow for the forfeiture of NHS benefits in the event of criminal, negligent or fraudulent activity.

According to the Sunday Times, the decision must be approved by the Secretary of State because the offenses are considered so serious that they will cause a “serious loss of confidence in the public service” or be considered “seriously prejudicial to the state.”

‘Butcher’ Paterson is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2017 of crimes committed over a 14-year period.

The once leading surgeon worked for the NHS in Birmingham and Solihull and set up a practice in two private hospitals run by Spire Healthcare.

An inquest is set to begin this month looking into the deaths of more than 60 women previously under Paterson’s care.

It is expected to last two years and examine whether they died an unnatural death as a result of his actions.

Coroner Richard Foster, who will preside over the trial, said he had “reason to believe” that Paterson’s poor care had caused or contributed to the deaths of women.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “These were appalling crimes and we are assisting His Majesty’s Coroner in his investigation into the tragic deaths of patients previously treated by Ian Paterson. We extend our sincere condolences to the families.”

“Cases like this are fortunately rare, but this Government will prioritize patient safety to ensure everyone receives the high quality, safe care they deserve.”

“We understand families’ frustration and recognize that significant patient safety improvements are needed. This government is working urgently to ensure that all lessons are learned from this terrible case.”

News of the pension cancellation comes after it was reported that Paterson will spend the remainder of his sentence in an open prison. After serving half of his sentence, he could be released as early as 2027.