Ian Paterson was seen by colleagues as difficult, says medic

A former colleague of Ian Paterson says the now jailed surgeon was seen as a difficult person to work with

BBC Ian Paterson wearing a striped shirt and black jacket with grey, short hair. He does not look at the camera and appears to have a slight frown on his space. There is a black railing attached to a wall behind him. — A former colleague of Ian Paterson says the now jailed surgeon was seen as a difficult person to work with

A disgraced breast surgeon was seen by colleagues as a divisive character before being investigated for rogue procedures, a coroner has been told.

Speaking at an inquest into the deaths of dozens of patients linked to Ian Paterson, a former colleague of the now-jailed medic said the operations he undertook were oncologically risky.

Consultant surgeon Alan Jewkes, who retired in 2019, said Paterson was also regarded as a difficult person to work with.

Mr Jewkes was speaking at the inquest of Christine Baker, the third of 62 of Paterson’s patients whose deaths are being examined.

Ms Baker, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent and lived in Solihull, died in 2015 at the age of 59, after taking Paterson’s advice to have a “skin-sparing” mastectomy a decade before.

Giving evidence to the inquest last week, Paterson described as speculation claims he may not have completely removed Mrs Baker’s tumour.

Christine Baker, a teacher, died in 2015 at the age of 59

Family Christine Baker is seen in front of a school noticeboard showing a display about learning strategies. She has blonde hair with a fringe and is wearing a green jacket with a black top and a necklace of green beads. — Christine Baker, a teacher, died in 2015 at the age of 59

Addressing Birmingham Coroner’s Court via a video-link, Mr Jewkes told the inquest he had never worked directly with Paterson.

However, he replaced him as a surgeon at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield in 1998 when Paterson moved to Solihull Hospital.

“He certainly was regarded as a very strong… to some extent a divisive character,” Mr Jewkes said.

“There was a strong personality clash between himself and the then clinical director for surgery – I think he found [Paterson’s] behaviour difficult.

“He was not playing his part on the team. He was very much a loner – ploughing his own furrow if you like. He was certainly a difficult character.”

‘Against principles of procedure’

An NHS merger in 2007 brought Good Hope and Solihull hospitals into the same health trust.

Soon afterwards, Mr Jewkes said he became aware of rumours about Paterson.

In medical evidence, he said Paterson’s self-described approach of leaving “thicker” fatty tissue behind to form the appearance of a cleavage was “risky”.

“It just goes against the principles of the procedure,” he said. “There is nothing in the surgical literature that would support that, that I am aware of.”

Paterson was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham and practised in the independent sector at Spire Parkway in Solihull and Spire Little Aston near Sutton Coldfield.

He is currently serving a 20-year sentence for wounding following a trial in 2017.

The inquests continue.

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