BBC appeal helps trace Paterson inquest families

Elaine Morris was one of five women for whom no next of kin could be traced, while her death was being investigated by coroners in relation to Ian Paterson

When the inquests into the deaths of more than 60 of jailed surgeon Ian Paterson's former patients resumed earlier this year, there were five names that stood out from the rest.

Of the 63 women, the coroner's team had been unable to find next of kin for five of them: Jean Bonehill, Gladys Currall, Elaine Morris, Ann Styles, and Winifred Worrall.

While the other women would have relatives attending their inquests - providing photographs of their loved ones and statements that detailed their lives, loves and losses - these five remained just names and medical records.

However, thanks to a BBC appeal in an attempt to discover the next of kin for these five women, the coroner has now been able to make contact with family members for all of them.

Ian Paterson was jailed for 20 years in 2017 after being convicted of wounding patients with botched and unnecessary operations.

The current inquests are to investigate whether his actions caused the unnatural deaths of the 63 women.

A genealogy firm called Anglia Research Services saw the BBC article and decided to dig into the five women's histories, producing family trees for all of the women.

They called a BBC reporter while she was in the coroners' court covering the case of Elaine Morris, and the details were passed on to the coroner's legal team, Higgs, so they could make contact with the relatives.

The relatives subsequently found out either by being contacted by Higgs or by seeing the BBC coverage directly.

Matt Boardman, case director at Anglia Research Services, said the team thought they would be able to contribute in finding the relatives.

"Those patients were technically reduced to little more than a name being read out in court, stripped of any sort of personal connection, so that just seemed deeply unfair," he said.

"It was essential to locate those families so they could be involved in the process, and make sure that was a little more humane and respectful. It's really rewarding as far as we're concerned."

The BBC has now spoken to family members of four of the five women about what their relatives were like and how they dealt with their diagnoses.

Elaine Morris

The inquest into the death of Elaine Morris was a particularly sobering one.

Ms Morris had learning difficulties as well as epilepsy and cerebral palsy, both of which were described at the inquest as severe.

The extent of her health conditions meant that she was considered unsuitable for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Ms Morris died aged 45 and there was little knowledge of her personal life at the inquest due to the coroner's team being unable to find her next of kin.

However, that changed when her cousin Ann Harper, was watching BBC Midlands Today and saw the appeal.

"The news report mentioned her epilepsy and her special needs and too many things made sense," Mrs Harper said.

"We all went silent and it gave us goosebumps, it was really quite chilling to hear it."

Mrs Harper said Elaine Morris's family had faced many challenges throughout their lives and were very resilient

Ms Morris had lived at home with her mum, Jean, and dad, Eric, in Kilcote Road, Shirley, until Eric died about four or five years before Ms Morris's death.

Due to Ms Morris's additional needs, it was Jean who made decisions about her daughter's treatment.

"Because they had challenges their whole life, they were really resilient as a family. They'd faced so much," Mrs Harper said.

She added that Ms Morris was a "big knitter" and was "always very smiley and bubbly" and enjoyed holding hands.

"It felt wrong that it was her name and no-one knew who she was," Ms Harper said about her cousin (left)

Eventually, Ms Morris was transferred to a facility where she was given hospice care and died in 2002. Just five days later, her beloved mother also died.

"When Elaine died we all felt it was just her heart was broken," Ms Harper said.

"They were inseparable. Without Elaine she really wouldn't have much to live for really."

The pair are buried together, alongside Eric, at the Robin Hood cemetery in Olton, Solihull.

Elaine Morris and her mother were inseparable, with Jean dying just five days after her daughter

Despite the shock at learning her cousin's death was being investigated, Ms Harper and her husband are glad they were tracked down.

"To have someone representing her is the main thing, as a family," she said.

"It was like, we've got to do this for Elaine, no matter how emotional it is, someone's got to stand up for Elaine."

Winifred Worrall

Winifred Worrall's family received a letter from the coroner's team after the BBC appeal and also had no knowledge of Ian Paterson.

Jayne Twomlow, Ms Worrall's granddaughter, said: "Reading the articles and seeing my nan's name just pulled the rug from under me."

Ms Twomlow said her grandmother was strong-willed, independent, and never gave up, having lived in an orphanage from an early age with two of her siblings.

"She was just an incredible woman," she said. "She was a strong character. She was a beautiful lady. She was loved by a lot of people."

Winifred Worrall's granddaughter described her as strong-willed, independent and beautiful

Ms Worrall had "an unbreakable bond" with her daughter, who is now 91 and lives with dementia.

"She still talks about her mum as if she's still here," she said.

Ms Twomlow said she was angry and upset when listening to the inquest, hearing one of the medical experts say that Ms Worrall may have just given up and might not have been terminally ill at the moment when she died.

"She never gave up. She wanted to be back home," she said. "Her body gave in, not her."

Ann Styles

Ann Styles' older brother, Anthony Francis, was contacted by Higgs after the appeal by the BBC, and believes they traced him via the genealogy company.

Like the other relatives, he did not know his sister had been treated by Paterson and was shocked at the news, but felt it was important to be aware his sister's death was being examined by the coroner and thanked the BBC for its appeal.

Mr Francis, who now lives in Mosborough, Sheffield, said: "It's good that the truth could come out and Ann hasn't been forgotten about. I do want answers."

Ms Styles did not have children and worked "very hard" at a medical technology company factory, where she became a supervisor.

Ann Styles and her husband were always together, her older brother said

"She was confident and had a heart of gold, she'd do anything for you," Mr Francis said.

Ann Styles died on Christmas Day 2001, aged 48. Mr Francis had last seen her a week earlier.

"The tears rolled down my face seeing my sister like that when she was dying," he said.

"It's been a long time but it's still very raw."

He said he remembered his sister in healthier, happier times, when they would go fishing together with her husband Mick and his wife Jill.

She was devoted to her late husband, with Mr Francis saying: "They were always together."

By speaking to the BBC, Mr Francis said he wanted his sister "to have a voice".

Jean Bonehill

Alan Bonehill is the nephew of Jean Bonehill and had never heard of Paterson until he was contacted by Higgs, adding that he was shocked to find out about the legal proceedings.

"It makes me a bit angry inside when they talk about it. I've read that many articles," he said.

Speaking about his aunt, Mr Bonehill said: "She never married, she was a spinster.

"She was very intelligent. She was always reading books.

"She was polite, nice, jolly. She kept herself to herself, but what she did say was nice. She was a good auntie."

Jean Bonehill was intelligent and always reading books, her nephew said