Concerns Emerged Regarding Surgeon Ian Paterson’s Procedures, Inquest Hears

A breast care nurse has testified at an inquest about how worries arose concerning operations performed by the discredited surgeon Ian Paterson, as a mother of two prepared for her second surgery. Christine Baker passed away in 2015, at the age of 59, after her cancer recurred following treatment administered by Paterson. Retired nurse Alison Greenwood informed Birmingham Coroner’s Court that “rumblings” regarding Paterson’s surgical practices began in October 2007. The inquest was told that this was the same month Mrs. Baker’s second operation was scheduled. On Monday, the inquest heard that Mrs. Baker underwent a “skin-sparing” mastectomy in 2005, having been assured there was no additional risk to the reconstructive aspect of the procedure. However, Mrs. Baker, a secondary school teacher in Birmingham who was born in Stoke-on-Trent and resided in Solihull, had a second mastectomy after her cancer returned in 2007. The court had previously been informed that her second cancer diagnosis occurred in July 2007. When describing Paterson, Mrs. Greenwood stated: “He was charming. He was intelligent. He was charismatic. He was generally liked by patients. He was generally liked by nurses.” Mrs. Greenwood noted that he was confident and assertive in multi-disciplinary team meetings, but in his absence, meetings were “more comfortable” and “less combative.” She also mentioned that he was rude to people on various occasions. She further testified that other consultants disagreed with him, adding: “He would disagree with Dr Stockdale and say I have removed all the breast tissue.” Paterson, according to her testimony, referred to surgeon Andrew Stockdale as “Andy Pandy” to nurses, a term she considered demeaning. The inquest previously heard that Dr. Stockdale had raised concerns about the amount of residual tissue left behind in mastectomies at the Heart of England NHS trust, where both surgeons were employed. The inquest was informed that Mrs. Greenwood’s direct involvement with Mrs. Baker was limited, yet she was present at a meeting on October 19 to discuss Mrs. Baker’s treatment. By October 2007, the inquest revealed, “rumblings” concerning Paterson’s surgical procedures were circulating among nurses and consultants. When questioned about whether concerns had surfaced prior to October 2007, Mrs. Greenwood responded: “I can’t say exactly.” Mrs. Greenwood explained that the concerns centered on Paterson leaving positive margins and potentially leaving breast tissue following a mastectomy. She elaborated: “If you leave breast tissue there’s a risk of developing recurrence if the cancer hasn’t been removed.” She informed the inquest that Paterson held a senior surgeon position, and she felt she had no grounds to challenge him, nor was it appropriate for her to offer a personal opinion. She also stated: “It wasn’t my place to inform patients. I wasn’t a surgeon. I was a nurse.” She recounted that when she inquired about existing concerns and the necessity of preparing patients for additional surgery, she was instructed to “butt out.” The ongoing inquest into Mrs. Baker’s death represents the third of 62 cases scheduled for review. For updates, follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are available.