Former breast surgeon will not appear in inquests

Ian Paterson is serving a 20-year jail term

Former breast surgeon Ian Paterson has refused to take part in the inquest process into the deaths of 62 of his former patients.

At a pre-inquest hearing in Birmingham, the jailed medic declined to take part due to health reasons, lack of legal representation and a lack of facilities to prepare.

He had been invited to appear by video link to address "generic matters" concerning his clinical practice, ahead of full inquests being held.

The coroner, Judge Richard Foster, said there was considerable public interest in evidence from Paterson and he would do his utmost to ensure he attended hearings.

Paterson’s solicitors had served an application on Wednesday to revoke a witness summons instructing him to give evidence.

The application said: “There is no prospect of Mr Paterson’s legal representatives having adequate time and facilities to prepare for the hearings that are currently timetabled.”

It said: “It has been noted before and bears repeating that Mr Paterson wants to participate in these inquests.”

But it said in the circumstances it would be “unreasonable” to ask him to comply with the summons.

Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being convicted of 20 counts of wounding.

Families speak of trauma

Stephen Baker, whose wife Christine died in 2015, said they "had been put through hell”.

Amy Lloyd, whose mother Jennifer Lloyd-Faux died in 2009, said the whole experience was "quite traumatic” and she did not agree to further delay.

Bernice Cordon, whose mother Yvonne died 24 years ago aged 39, also said it was traumatic, adding that Paterson had "plenty of time to sort out resources.”

Judge Foster said: "What I have had very eloquently described to me in court today is the distress that is caused by this process and how that will be significantly worse were there to be any further delay.

"The inquests will continue and we will continue to hear the generic issues as planned next week. I want to reassure the families of this."

The judge added: "Mr Paterson has declined the opportunity to give evidence on generic issues today.

"He and his legal team can concentrate on the individual inquests which will now be listed to start on the 21st of October."

The judge ordered Paterson's legal representatives to attend a hearing in person on 17 October to discuss his application to revoke the witness summons.

Paterson was employed by the Heart of England NHS Trust and practised privately

Linda Millband from Thompsons Solicitors, who are representing 14 of the families, said in a statement released after the morning hearing: “Whilst we wouldn’t normally comment during an inquest hearing, I would like to make clear how deeply disappointed my clients are by Paterson’s refusal to attend the inquests into the deaths of 62 of his patients.

"His absence is a disservice to the families who have already endured unimaginable pain and suffering following the deaths of their loved ones.

"These families deserve to know how their loved ones died and what were the causes.

“The claim that Mr Paterson lacks adequate facilities to prepare for the hearings is unacceptable.

"The court has made extensive efforts to ensure he has access to the necessary resources, and his continued attempts to evade participation only add to the distress of those families whose loved ones have died.”

The disgraced surgeon was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and practised in the private sector at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston.

He was appointed as a consultant at Solihull Hospital in 1998 and practised there until May 2011.

More than 560 patient deaths have been considered so far by a multi-disciplinary team of medical experts, leading to the opening of 62 inquests.