Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ministers have been accused of “knowingly exposing” NHS and private patients to safety risks after delaying again a full response to the inquiry into the Ian Paterson scandal. Mr Rowland said: “There's nothing in the government's response which even give an indication that they are taking seriously the risks associated with provision of services within private hospitals.” He said ministers had been warned repeatedly about safety risks, adding: “It can only be seen to be a political choice not to intervene to take action in order to protect patients, because clearly the systemic risks are there and comes on the back of the government expanding the role of the private hospital sector in the delivery of NHS services. “By not taking action now to intervene to make private hospitals safer they are knowingly exposing more NHS patients to the same risks identified by the inquiry.” Last week it emerged Spire Healthcare had set aside £22m, after a recall of 5,500 of Paterson’s patients identified new victims who had been given surgery and procedures they did not need. Kashmir Uppal, a partner at law firm Shoosmiths, and who represented patients bringing claims against Paterson and Spire Healthcare told The Independent: “They need to go further and they need to deal with the disparity between the NHS and the private sector when it comes to liability and indemnity.