The inquiry into rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson doesn't address the real problem – the corrupt private hospital system

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Between 1997 and 2011, the rogue breast surgeon harmed over 750 women at two private hospitals in the West Midlands, and made huge sums of money out of providing unnecessary operations. So valued are consultants to private hospitals that they will often provide them with lavish hospitality and financial inducements to get them to bring their patients to their hospital, rather than to competitors. This leaves private hospitals with very little incentive to challenge a consultant’s activities, as an overly strict hospital management could drive away a highly lucrative consultant and their steady stream of patients. Ian Paterson jail term increased: Victims welcome result In addition, the companies running private hospitals have no financial incentive to invest in adequate post-operative care since, if a patient does suffer life-threatening complications, the patient can be transferred to the local NHS hospital at no additional cost to the private hospital.