Solihull protest staged by Ian Paterson breast op women

Women given unnecessary or incomplete breast operations by a surgeon have protested outside a private hospital.

The women demonstrated at Spire Parkway Hospital, Solihull, on Tuesday about delays in receiving compensation.

The protesters, who were among some 700 women treated by Dr Ian Paterson from 1993 to 2012, are "disgusted" at the "slow reaction to their cases", a legal representative said.

Spire Healthcare said Mr Paterson was "personally liable" for private claims but it had settled some cases.

"Unlike in the NHS, Mr Paterson was not and has never been an employee of Spire Healthcare. As is industry standard, he practised as an independent practitioner under the grant of practising privileges at Spire's hospitals," its statement said.

Mr Paterson, who was suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2012, carried out "cleavage sparing" mastectomies at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston, in Sutton Coldfield.

The GMC said the procedure, which left a small amount of tissue for cosmetic reasons, breached national guidelines because it risked the return of cancer.

He also carried out the procedure at Solihull Hospital, run by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust which has been settling damages from NHS patients.

But women treated at the two private hospitals say claims are taking too long.

BBC Midlands Today's Amy Cole reports.