The Trust’s response to recent media stories, 25 September 2013:

National and local news media have recently carried items about the review into breast care services at Solihull Hospital, querying whether patients of Mr Ian Paterson have had sufficient opportunity to come forward.

That is a concern that is unfounded. Strenuous efforts have been made to make sure that patients, their families and hospital staff have been able to contribute over the past few months, and many have done so.

Patients were invited to come forward in follow-up clinics, via repeated calls in local newspapers and magazines, and through the Trust’s website. No patients were contacted individually and invited to attend, as following independent legal advice, this would breach patient confidentiality rules which permit the hospital to make direct contact only when it relates specifically to ongoing medical care.

The Times newspaper’s story said Sir Ian interviewed only 13 of the women affected. In fact, as we told The Times’ reporter before the story was published, 21 patients and their family members met personally with Sir Ian. Several more who came forward via the website and articles in the press were re-directed to their private sector healthcare provider, because their cases were outside the remit of this hospital’s review.

A public meeting with Sir Ian Kennedy was held at a local hotel for patients who chose not to speak to him on a one-to-one basis. More than 50 people attended and were able to share their views anonymously.

46 clinical and support staff, hospital management and former staff members were interviewed individually at length, and there was one group meeting with the breast care service’s multi-disciplinary team.

Additionally, expert opinion was sought from expert bodies, including the Cancer Intelligence Network (CIN).

The review process had no timescale attached to it when it started so that Sir Ian was free to speak to as many people as he needed to in order to gain a thorough understanding of the issues.  Sir Ian has indicated that the interview phase took longer than expected, because he needed to accommodate more patients than expected who wished to speak to him personally. But he has confirmed that he aims to complete and publish his findings later this year.

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust will be publishing Sir Ian’s recommendations in full.

For more information, visit http://www.breastcarereview.co.uk