Latest news with #SpireHealthcare
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coroner rejects Paterson's opioid claim
A coroner has rejected a suggestion by jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson that one of his patients died of an opioid overdose. The disgraced doctor told an inquest into the death of Elaine Morris on Tuesday that he was concerned her official cause of death - carcinomatosis and breast carcinoma - was incorrect. He told the inquest "I'm concerned she died of opiate overdose", but two oncologists acting as experts to the inquests disagreed with Paterson's claim. After hearing their evidence on Wednesday, judge Richard Foster said he could "safely reject opioid toxicity" as the cause of death of the 45-year-old from Shirley, West Midlands. Paterson, who treated thousands of women at hospitals in the West Midlands, had told the inquest on Tuesday that Ms Morris's reported drowsiness in her medical notes suggested she was being overdosed on opiates. The inquest heard that Ms Morris was being administered two opioids for pain relief: morphine sulphate tablets (MST) and Oramorph. Her medical notes showed her being introduced to MST with 10mg sachets, being increased to 30mg and then reduced to 20mg due to "sleepiness". The oncologists, Prof David Dodwell and Prof Pat Price, agreed that these were "entry level doses", with some patients being given up to 100mg or 150mg of MST. This led them to believe she not had died of opioid toxicity, which the coroner then rejected as a potential cause of death. Elaine Morris's inquest is one of 63 into the deaths of Ian Paterson's former patients, to determine whether they died unnatural deaths. This includes determining whether Paterson left any breast tissue behind during surgery which may have metastasized. The disgraced surgeon was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017, after being convicted of wounding patients with botched and unnecessary operations, but will be eligible for release in 2027. Elaine Morris died in 2002, aged 45, having been diagnosed with breast cancer aged 42. Her inquest heard that she had suffered from severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy, as well as learning difficulties. Oncologist Dr Talaat Latief had deemed radiotherapy unsafe for her, due to her inability to lie still and be in a room on her own, and claimed she would be unable to withstand the side-effects of chemotherapy. Prof Price and Prof Dodwell both agreed that radiotherapy was a "non-starter" for Ms Morris, with Prof Price saying chemotherapy would have been "a high risk for a small benefit" for her. However, Prof Dodwell expressed concern that Paterson performed surgery on Ms Morris when radiotherapy was never going to be an option for her. "He's an experienced breast surgeon, he knows full well radiotherapy would be required," he told the inquest. Paterson performed three surgeries on Ms Morris while she was a private patient with Spire Healthcare: a wide local excision on her right breast in September 1999, a diagnostic excision biopsy in January 2000, before performing a complete mastectomy in November 2000. The inquest had also raised the question as to whether Paterson performing a mastectomy prior to November 2000 could have improved Ms Morris's prospects. In a written report, Prof Price said: "In my opinion earlier mastectomy would not have altered the natural history of the disease and did not contribute to Ms Morris's demise, which was due to her having poor biology breast cancer and not being able to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to her comorbidities." However, at the inquest, both professors said they would defer to surgical experts on questions regarding surgery. In the conclusion of her written report, Prof Price said: "In terms of causation, in this individual case the death appears to have been due to the extremely aggressive biology of Ms Morris' tumour and her inability to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to her comorbidities and inability to achieve control of her local disease." She added: "In my opinion, I can find no evidence that the treatment Ms Morris received from Mr Paterson or any other clinician more than minimally, negligibly or trivially contributed to her death." Prof Price, who is instructed by Spire Healthcare in 11 cases involving Paterson at the company's private hospitals, had also been asked by the solicitors to the inquest to conduct a review of reports made by the medical experts on the inquests' multi-disciplinary team (MDT). It came after Paterson raised concerns at the end of last year that one of the experts had shown bias and that their evidence should be excluded, in all of the cases not involving Spire Healthcare. He cited an email from one of the MDT experts, professor and consultant breast surgeon Mike Dixon, in which he wrote to another member: "We need to find some way though of exposing Paterson as a liar and an incompetent surgeon." While the email was "unfortunate, inappropriate and clumsy", Judge Foster said, it was not by itself indicative of actual or unconscious bias. Despite this, he concluded it was best that Professor Dixon withdraw from the MDT for the purposes of the ongoing inquiries. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Two more inquests for jailed surgeon's patients Plea to find families of shamed surgeon's patients Jailed surgeon's mastectomies inadequate - inquest Colleague hesitated to report 'forceful' surgeon Inquests website
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
EPF weighs £1.4bil sale of UK private hospitals
EPF has appointed broker Knight Frank to offer the 12 properties for sale, people with knowledge of the process said. KUALA LUMPUR : EPF is preparing to sell a portfolio of UK private hospitals that are valued at about £1.4 billion (US$1.9 billion). The fund has appointed broker Knight Frank to offer the 12 properties for sale, people with knowledge of the process said. The hospitals, which an EPF-led consortium bought for about £700 million in 2013, are operated by Spire Healthcare Group Plc, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private. Representatives for EPF and Knight Frank declined to comment. Healthcare property has seen a flurry of interest this year as investors seek out alternative assets with long-term indexed-linked leases. KKR & Co is vying with Primary Health Properties Plc to buy Assura Plc, a UK landlord that mostly owns doctor surgeries as well as a portfolio of private hospitals that it bought for £500 million last year. Aedifica SA agreed yesterday to buy rival Cofinimmo in a deal that creates a healthcare REIT with a combined gross asset value of more than €12 billion euros (US$13.7 billion). The use of private healthcare in the UK has grown as the country's National Health Service (NHS) struggles to bring down waiting lists that were swollen during the pandemic. A record 4.7 million had private health insurance through their employer in 2023, according to data compiled by the Association of British Insurers last year. The NHS also uses private hospitals to carry out procedures. The state backed healthcare provider spent £2.1 billion in private hospitals last year, according to a report by LaingBuisson. It spent a further £1.5 billion at private clinics. The UK government announced earlier this year that the NHS would use private healthcare to carry out additional appointments, scans and operations in order to reduce waiting times.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Malaysia's EPF Weighs £1.4 Billion Sale of UK Private Hospitals
Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund is preparing to sell a portfolio of UK private hospitals that are valued at about £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion). The fund has appointed broker Knight Frank to offer the 12 properties for sale, people with knowledge of the process said. The hospitals, which an EPF led consortium bought for about £700 million in 2013, are operated by Spire Healthcare Group Plc, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private.
ITV News
03-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Who is Ian Paterson the butcher surgeon and what did he do?
An ITV documentary, Bodies of Evidence: The Butcher Surgeon, uncovers the shocking story of Ian Paterson and his victims. Paterson, who was based in Birmingham, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for his crimes, after carrying out needless operations over a 14-year period. While working as a breast surgeon consultant, he was diagnosing cancer when there wasn't any and cutting patients open for no reason. He was found guilty in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding. This film from the ITV Exposure strand talks to victims, fellow doctors and a key whistleblower to tell the extraordinary story of how the system allowed Paterson to perform unnecessary and damaging surgery on so many for so long. Here's a guide to who Ian Paterson is and how he performed damaging surgeries: Who is Ian Paterson? The breast surgeon, 62, is currently serving 20 years for his 14-year campaign of botched operations he carried out in the West Midlands. Paterson, who is due to be freed in 2027, was jailed in 2017 for wounding with intent and unlawfully wounding nine women and one man he treated between 1997 and 2011. He convinced cancer patients to undergo operations in NHS and private hospitals by inventing or exaggerating the risks of tumours to earn extra cash and maintain a successful reputation. Where did Ian Paterson work? Paterson was a consultant breast surgeon in the West Midlands, working in both NHS and private practice at Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Spire Hospital Parkway and Spire Hospital Little Aston. When was Ian Paterson suspended? Ian Paterson was not suspended from carrying out his NHS or private work until 2011. Whistleblowers said they reported concerns about Paterson years before this. What is the Paterson inquiry? The Paterson inquiry investigated how the surgeon was able to carry out unnecessary surgeries undetected for so many years. In 2020 it found "patients were let down over many years" by the NHS and private hospitals and opportunities to stop Paterson were "missed, time after time". Inquiry chairman the Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, said there was a culture of "avoidance and denial", which allowed the breast surgeon to carry out unnecessary and botched operations on hundreds of women. The inquiry recommended that the NHS Trust, which employed Paterson, and private health firm Spire Healthcare recall all of Paterson's patients. How many victims did Ian Paterson have? A total of 675 out of 1,207 women who underwent the unregulated treatment had died by 2017. More than 750 victims have already successfully claimed after receiving unapproved and life-threatening surgery from Paterson, who treated more than 11,000 patients. Will they get compensation? Public and private hospitals Paterson worked for have already paid out millions of pounds to those he operated on and their families. Spire Healthcare, which runs the private hospitals where Paterson operated, has paid out £13.1 million in compensation and set aside an additional £4.6 million for "future costs". Spire Healthcare told ITV News: 'An additional £4.6m has been set aside to complete the ongoing patient reviews and settle future claims and costs. Spire continually reviews the level of the fund's provision, which is dependent on the amount and size of claims received and any new information gained.' The latest investigations Five investigations into Patterson's practices have been conducted following two independent reports, a criminal trial, and one government inquiry. The most recent, which has been suspended, is examining the deaths of 62 women who were operated on by Paterson and later died of breast cancer. How much will it cost? Despite the fact that the inquests are due to finish in 2026, the Birmingham City Council is allocating funding until 2028. More than £2.5 million has already been spent. The costs all relate to the administration of the inquests, including fees for the coroner, legal counsel, solicitors and legal teams representing the NHS. What has happened at the inquests into the deaths of his patients? Ian Paterson refused to attend the first of more than 60 inquests touching on the deaths of his former patients because he believes the coroner's investigation is "biased", the court has been told. The breast surgeon was ordered by coroner Richard Foster to appear remotely at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court to give evidence at the inquest of Chloe Nikitas, who died at the age of 43 in April 2008. Mr Foster issued a ruling on the 21st October saying he could 'find no reason' why Paterson could not attend the inquest and give evidence remotely from prison, and said it was 'disappointing' to the families of the victims that he had decided not to appear. Paterson had been accused of attempting to delay the hearings after lodging an application to have his witness summons revoked the day before the first inquest was due to start on October 10. He cited health concerns, a lack of legal representation, and 'inadequate facilities to prepare.' The first inquest into the death of one of Paterson's patients heard on the 22nd October that a mother who was given a "cleavage-sparing" mastectomy then had her breast cancer return. Chloe Nikitas, an environmental consultant from Tamworth, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and was treated by the West Midlands"butcher" surgeon. He told her he could perform a mastectomy, which would leave some skin behind to ensure her cleavage would look normal. She then discovered a lump in the same breast in 2005, which was the same type of cancer she had three years earlier. That cancer diagnosis was terminal, and she died at the age of 43 at the Priory Hospital in April 2008. The inquest into the death of Ms Nikitas is the first of 62 into the deaths of Paterson's former patients scheduled to be heard at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court over the next eight months. The second inquest into the death of another of Paterson's victims opened on the 29th of October. Elaine Turbill, who was 63 and from Solihull, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy carried out by Paterson the following month. The inquest in Birmingham heard that Elaine, who worked as a legal secretary, had been married for 40 years and had two children. In a statement, her daughter Gemma said her mother was a "kind, loving and friendly person whose smile lit up a room. She enjoyed going to church, cooking and gardening and loved family trips to Mablethorpe to "smell the sea air". Elaine Turbill died in 2017. Her daughter said seven years on, the pain never goes away. She said she feels her mother's death could have been prevented, which would have given her the opportunity to see her second grandchild. These inquests are currently suspended, and not a single inquest has been heard so far this year, with several hearings cancelled. Birmingham City Council has been contacted for a response.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Widow sues health firm after weight-loss op death
The widow of a 48-year-old man who died after weight loss surgery is taking legal action against the private healthcare firm which carried out the operation. Philip Morris died in 2021, four days after part of his stomach was removed during a gastric sleeve procedure at the Spire St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey. In February 2024, a coroner concluded he probably would have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor was working correctly. Following the inquest Spire Healthcare said it accepted the coroner's findings and had taken action to address them. Widow calls for greater private care transparency 'Equipment issue' in weight loss surgery death Women regret cut-price weight loss surgery abroad Mr Morris' widow, Dana, received two interim compensation payments from Spire Healthcare last year, but is now taking the company to the High Court. Mrs Morris, 49, said Spire's reluctance to accept full liability and agree a financial settlement had "prolonged their nightmare" and caused "further unnecessary grief". "We definitely can't move on to kind of whatever grieving could look like," she said, adding: "I don't feel like we've even started that process." Court papers obtained by BBC Wales allege substandard treatment by Spire Healthcare as well as medics involved in Mr Morris' surgery and aftercare. A date for the High Court hearing has not yet been set. Mr Morris, from Newport, was a founding member of Wales Arts Review and was its managing director from 2012 to 2016. The family moved to south London from Newport in 2016. Mr Morris - who weighed 22 stone, had type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea - elected for private surgery due to long NHS waits following the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the surgery, Mr Morris experienced severe abdominal pain which left him struggling to talk and breathe. He was placed in the intensive care unit of the private hospital where a decision was made to intubate him before moving him to an NHS hospital. A four-day inquest in Croydon in February 2024 heard the procedure was found to be "extremely difficult" and that his "airway was lost". Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said there was a "missed opportunity" to try to create a new airway because a carbon dioxide monitoring device was not working correctly. She found that "no-one checked that this piece of equipment was working" because it was not any individual's responsibility to check. In a narrative conclusion, the coroner found Mr Morris died after "suffering complications of an emergency procedure carried out in turn to treat complications of post bariatric surgery". A year on, Mr Morris' widow and their son Orson, 15, have been diagnosed with PTSD and Orson continues to require counselling. "We feel like we're trying to bring justice for Phil," Mrs Morris said. "It's not right that he went in to improve his health and if things had gone to plan what life would be like now." "Spire's mistakes cost Phil his life and we will forever suffer those consequences. Lessons must be learned so this never happens to any other family," she added. Spire Healthcare said it was unable to comment on specific details, due to ongoing legal proceedings. But in a statement the company said: "We apologise for the distress caused by Mr Morris' death and can confirm that Mrs Morris' claims are being responded to through the appropriate legal channels." Call for more weight loss support to deter foreign treatment Obesity in Wales worse than feared - researchers
