Disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson "experimented" on his patients for personal profit, an MP has told the House of Commons.

Image source, House of Commons

During an earlier debate on the surgeon, Julian Knight, Conservative MP for Solihull, where Paterson operated, said: “Scores of women and their families in Solihull have been dramatically affected by Paterson who chose, I think for want of a better word, to experiment on his patients, seemingly for personal profit, ruining and shortening lives.”

He said they wanted to see it “never happens again”.

In response, health minister Nadine Dorries said: “I think we have a process in place now that wasn’t in place then.”

BBC Midlands Today

Specialist teams are using specialist technology, usually used to locate missing aircraft, in their search for a missing Coventry mother last seen almost 30 years ago.

Following new "credible" information, a stretch of canal between Rugby and Coventry is being examined for the body of Nicola Payne, a young mother who was last seen in 1991.

Peter Faulding, chief executive of Specialist Group International, said the sonar equipment they were using is of the "highest frequency you can get".

"It will pick up even sticks laying on the bottom, it's that accurate," he said.

"We found two targets - what was a mass - we put the diver in and now that's turned out to be two safes."

Jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson is planning to appeal against his criminal convictions and claiming his innocence, according to his lawyers.

An independent inquiry into Paterson's malpractice has found he was allowed to operate in a "dysfunctional" healthcare system.

Paterson is serving a 20-year jail term for 17 counts of wounding with intent.

In a written response issued through his lawyers Hadgkiss, Hughes and Beale, Paterson said he had written and "answered all questions put to him" by the inquiry, having also flagged to the panel concerns about "possible bias".

It said: "Ian Paterson maintains his innocence of all of the criminal charges of which he was convicted and is actively working on an appeal against those convictions.

"Mr Paterson submitted a number of written representations to the Inquiry, headed by the Bishop of Norwich, and answered all questions put to him, as far as his current circumstances permitted him to do.

"Mr Paterson now intends to concentrate his efforts on proving his innocence."

As the clean-up continues in Tipton, South Staffs Water has apologised for the pipe burst that forced people out of their homes this morning.

And the company has promised to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Health minister Nadine Dorries has given a statement on the report into "disgraced surgeon" Ian Paterson saying there was failure in the NHS, independent sector and regulatory system which caused patients immense harm.

Image source, House of Commons

"Nothing I can say today can lessen the suffering" of patients, she said, and offered an apology on behalf of the government and NHS.

She also “paid tribute to the bravery” of those patients who told their stories to the inquiry.

“We are absolutely committed to ensuring lessons are learned and acted upon from the findings of this shocking inquiry in the interest of enhancing patient protection and safety both in the NHS and independent sector,” she said.

A man has died after the bike he was riding was hit by a van in Nuneaton earlier.

It was struck on Ridge Lane, in the town, shortly before 06:00 GMT.

"Staff arrived on scene to find a cyclist, a man, in a critical condition. Sadly, despite their best efforts nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead on scene,” said the ambulance service.

Ikea is trying to respond to "changing customer tastes", says Patrick O'Brien, GlobalData's retail research director, after the company announced it is to close the Coventry store.

Image source, Google

"When the Coventry Ikea was opened, it was still very much about imposing the 'Ikea way' on customers; you walk this way round the maze, you pick it up yourself, you put it together yourself.

"Things have moved on in UK retail now, it's all about how best to serve the customer and Ikea has had to adapt and change their model.

"This is about Ikea adapting how it uses physical spaces rather than a beginning of a retreat."

A home partially collapses during floods which residents say are in the same place as one in October.

Debbie Douglas was key to setting up the independent inquiry into disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson.

One of Ian Paterson's victims, Debbie Douglas (pictured right), said the fight against the surgeon "would go on until legislation has changed."

"We don't want somebody from the government giving us lip service and saying that lessons will be learned. "It sickens me. Lessons aren't learned unless legislations change.

"You look at the GMC - why, when people have reported the same consultant over and over again, is that consultant still working?"

Image source, PA Media

Tracey Smith (pictured left), said: "Paterson was claiming that there was some sort of cancer hotspot in Solihull. The only problem in Solihull was Ian Paterson.

"Now we will continue to fight so that the recommendations are put in place to stop this from ever happening in the NHS or the Spire or any private hospital in the country."

Worcestershire's acute hospitals are set to ask the government for more than £100m to improve the county's accident and emergency departments.

Both the MP for Redditch, Rachel Maclean, and the MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, have said they'll back the bid, which is currently in its outline stages with hospital bosses.

While the hospitals trust hasn't yet commented publicly on the plans, the Conservative MPs have said it was encouraged to be more ambitious by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Ms Maclean said they wanted £20m for The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and £60m for the Worcester Royal Hospital, with another £22m to improve communications at the trust.

People in Tipton affected by a major pipe burst are told it won't happen again.

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Hundreds of people have been reacting to news that Coventry's Ikea store is set to close,on the BBC Midlands Facebook page. , external

John Griffiths posted: "Such a wrong shortsighted decision! We live in Birmingham but always go to the Coventry one as its way less hassle than going to the M6 Junction 9 store. IKEA - you need a rethink."

Melanie Shinnick said: "I must admit this doesn’t surprise me! Awful layout just getting in and out is like a maze we always go to M6 or Nottingham for ease of getting in & out and no waiting for lifts."

Brenda Rance commented: "That’s sad I always use IKEA at Coventry much nicer than the London one."

A former patient of Ian Paterson said if the government implemented the findings of today's report it would be a "step in the right direction".

Lesley Cuthbert, who was referred to the surgeon through the NHS, said he had "almost coerced us into going privately by telling me that my operations were urgently needed".

"In actual fact, as I found out years later, I didn't have cancer at all."

The report also recommended the recall of his 11,000 patients for their surgery to be assessed.

"I eventually got a recall letter in 2014, she said, "my operations were in 2006 - but I understand that there are still patients who have not had their recall letter."

An 82-year-old woman has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after she was hit by a car in Shropshire.

West Mercia Police said the crash had happened near Worthen Post Office at 10:50 GMT on Monday.

Families of Ian Paterson's victims call for him to face manslaughter charges over patient deaths.

A lawyer representing patients of Ian Paterson says she's "encouraged" by today's report but that its recommendations need to be "fully implemented".

Kashmir Uppal said: "We want to make sure that everybody using the healthcare sector, whether that's the NHS or private, are protected.

"A recommendation has been made that there is an equal playing field between NHS patients and private patients and it's for the government to decide how they implement it.

"At the moment [private healthcare providers] are not liable for the actions of the doctors who work on their premises.

"They're given practice privileges and then they seem to wash their hands of any responsibility for them; that cannot carry on.

"Only when it affects them financially are they going to take any proper action."

The Swedish furniture giant's Coventry branch will close this summer, putting 352 jobs at risk.

The ambulance station in Ross-on-Wye is closing at the end of the month because it doesn't get used enough.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was only regularly used at the beginning or end of shifts.

WMAS also said the number of resources operating in Herefordshire would not reduce as a result of the closure.

Victoria Azubuike is touring the country with her leadership programme for young women.