'My mum was robbed of a life with her family'

Inquests have opened into 63 of Ian Paterson's former patients

A woman who was operated on by jailed surgeon Ian Paterson was "robbed of a life with her husband and children," an inquest has heard.

Yvonne Cordon, who lived in Kingstanding, Birmingham, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33 and died six years later in November 2000.

Her death is one of 63 to be examined at inquests, to determine whether she died an unnatural death as a result of Paterson's actions.

In a statement read by the coroner, Judge Richard Foster, Mrs Cordon's daughter Bernice Cordon described her as "the bravest, most caring woman to walk this earth".

"She had a heart full of love and a belly full of fire," she said.

"She was the life and soul of the party. Even in the last few days she was putting everything before herself."

Ms Cordon said her mother enjoyed her job at Good Hope Hospital, but that her passion was always her family, particularly her children.

"She gave us all the attention we needed, no matter how dark her days were with illness," her statement read.

"It was her worst fear too. As time came on, it became apparent she would be leaving the one thing she lived for."

Paterson is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence

Ms Cordon said her mother's relationship with her father was incredible.

"She was robbed of a life with her husband and children," her statement said.

"She will never know what growing old feels like or to be a grandmother."

Yvonne Cordon, whose maiden name was Miles, was born in Northern Ireland on 11 July 1961, with Judge Foster reflecting that she would have grown up during The Troubles.

Video-link evidence

The inquest heard that she was a patient at Good Hope Hospital, an NHS hospital in Sutton Coldfield, after being referred to Ian Paterson by her GP due to a lump being found in her breast.

Breast tissue and five lymph nodes were later removed, which led to a diagnosis of grade-three breast carcinoma, which had spread to one of the lymph nodes.

The cancer later spread to her bones and lungs. She underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy, and was prescribed a hormone therapy drug called Tamoxifen.

Ian Paterson was due to give evidence via video-link on Monday but was unable to, with the inquest told there were internet connection issues at the prison.

Paterson was sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2017, after being convicted of wounding patients with botched and unnecessary operations, but will be eligible for release in 2027.

The inquest continues.