Paterson betrayed patient's trust, inquest hears

William Colfer (left in drawing) told the inquest his mother Phyllis, who was among former patients of Ian Paterson, had a "childlike vulnerability".

A former patient of jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson had her "childlike" trust betrayed, an inquest has heard.

Former traffic warden Phyllis Colfer, 67, died of carcinomatosis and breast cancer at a nursing home in Solihull on 21 August 2002.

Her son William Colfer told the inquest at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court that she had trouble expressing herself and would never have questioned her doctors.

Paterson - a former employee of Heart of England NHS Trust who also worked at Spire Little Aston - was jailed for 15 years, later extended to 20 years, in 2017 after being convicted of wounding patients with botched and unnecessary operations.

William Colfer told the inquest his mother had trouble expressing herself and would never have questioned her doctors

In a statement read out by the coroner at Monday's hearing, Mr Colfer said his mother suffered a stroke in 1985, which affected her right side and left her with "a slight speech impediment".

Her limited speech meant she would never question anything, Mr Colfer said, and that it gave her a "childlike vulnerability".

"I remember asking her about the hospital and staff - she always described the care that she received as very good, with a big smile on her face," he said.

"I feel that she had a childlike trust in the doctors who were caring for her, and I feel that this trust was betrayed."

Giving evidence over a video link from prison, Ian Paterson said Mrs Colfer was referred to him in November 1999.

He did not do an ultra sound scan, and he removed a small skin lesion in January 2000.

In February, a 1.6 centimetre cancerous tumour was found in her breast and in March she had a mastectomy.

The court heard that an oncologist, Dr Andrew Stockdale, had suggested that Ian Paterson had carried out a partial mastectomy.

However, Paterson denied this and said no breast tissue had been left behind.

Ian Paterson was jailed in 2017 for wounding patients with botched and unnecessary surgeries

'Very happy person'

Inquests have been looking into the cases of 63 of Paterson's former patients to determine whether they died an unnatural death as a result of his actions.

The majority of his patients lived in Birmingham, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire.

Ms Colfer, who was treated by Paterson after she was diagnosed with cancer in January 2000, was born in Limerick and was one of 11 children, the inquest heard.

She later moved to London and then to Birmingham, where she worked as a traffic warden.

Her son said she was a "very happy person" who had good relationships with her family and friends.

Following her diagnosis, Mr Colfer said she "just took it all in her stride" and would not dwell on it.

"She made the best and most of life and led a very healthy life, as she never smoked or consumed alcohol," he added.

The inquest continues.

Her son said Phyllis Colfer was a "very happy person" who had good relationships with her family and friends