Tuesday 12 November 2013
Response to Dispatches, Channel 4, from Dr Mark Newbold, Chief Executive for Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust:
Firstly, I would like to re-emphasise that, on behalf of the Trust, I very much regret what has happened to so many women, and our thoughts are with them and their families. We are doing everything we can to offer support through what is a most difficult time for them. A telephone support line is available on 07805 656 629*, and anyone with any new concerns or queries may call our helpline on 0121 424 0808*.
There is no doubt that mistakes have been made in the past and this is why, since I came into post, we have focused on what the patients and staff have been telling us to identify fully what happened, and taken every possible action to prevent this from happening again. I have requested an independent review led by Sir Ian Kennedy QC. I expect Sir Kennedy’s report to provide clarity around the specific areas that need to be addressed; and we have committed to this report being made public when it is presented which we believe will be in the next few weeks. We will respond swiftly and positively to Sir Kennedy’s findings and recommendations.
Since my appointment, and the appointment of a new Chair and Medical Director from 2010, I have taken a number of important steps. These include:
- Suspending Mr Paterson from the Trust in 2011.
- Writing to all the women who had mastectomies performed by Mr Paterson, and by March 2012 they had all been reviewed within our clinics (this follows the earlier partial recall).
- Introducing the new national doctors’ re-validation process at the Trust. Part of this process looks at doctors’ performance and will ensure problems are picked up. It compares patient experience and complaints with clinical audit information.
- There are now many routes through which our medical and other staff can raise concerns – anonymously or otherwise. In addition to standard whistle blowing procedures, we hold regular staff workshops to discuss patient safety and staff have open access to me and to the Trust Chair. This is an ongoing programme which responds to the Francis Report, and we will see further initiatives launched within the Trust.
- Members of the Board attend the monthly safety visits which take place with clinicians. These take place without senior managers being present and provide an opportunity for staff to raise any concerns and issues relating to patient safety, and together we make sure that these are addressed.
- I, and other members of the Trust’s senior team, have met individually with many of the women and their families who contacted us with concerns about the care they received from Mr Paterson.
*Both help lines are open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Please note, telephone number 07805 656 629 is a mobile number and calls will be charged accordingly.
Friday 8 November 2013
Please find below the Trust’s response to a letter received from Channel 4 Dispatches on 4 November 2013:
Trust-Response-to-DISPATCHES-Letter
Please find below a link to all Freedom of Information act requests and responses in relation to Mr Ian Paterson on the Breast Care Review website:
