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This is the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian job description. Use it for reference or for a template to advertise for a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian in you trust/sector.

The Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson, published on Tuesday 4 February 2020, was prompted by the case of Ian Paterson, a breast surgeon who was convicted of wounding with intent some of the 11,000 patients he treated and jailed for 20 years in 2017. More than 200 patients and family members gave evidence as part of the Inquiry and it is estimated that he could have harmed more than 1000 patients.[1] The Inquiry gave those involved an opportunity to be heard and to learn how this happened, in both the NHS and the independent sector. It found that this “is the story of a healthcare system which proved itself dysfunctional at almost every level when it came to keeping patients safe, and where those who were the victims of Paterson’s malpractice were let down time and time again”.[2] At Patient Safety Learning we have reflected on some of the key patient safety themes that have emerged from this Inquiry and the actions required these issues. You can read Patient Safety Learning's full response here.

In April 2017, Ian Paterson, a surgeon in the West Midlands, was convicted of wounding with intent, and imprisoned. He had harmed patients in his care. The scale of his malpractice shocked the country. There was outrage too that the healthcare system had not prevented this and kept patients safe. At the time of his trial, Paterson was described as having breached his patients’ trust and abused his power. In December 2017, the Government commissioned this independent Inquiry to investigate Paterson’s malpractice and to make recommendations to improve patient safety. This report presents the Inquiry’s methodology, findings and recommendations. More importantly, it tells the story of the human cost of Paterson’s malpractice and the healthcare system’s failure to stop him, and something of the enduring impact this has had on the lives of so many people.

In April 2017, Ian Paterson, a surgeon in the West Midlands, was convicted of wounding with intent, and imprisoned. He had harmed patients in his care. The scale of his malpractice shocked the country. There was outrage too that the healthcare system had not prevented this and kept patients safe. At the time of his trial, Paterson was described as having breached his patients’ trust and abused his power. In December 2017, the Government commissioned this independent Inquiry to investigate Paterson’s malpractice and to make recommendations to improve patient safety. This report presents the Inquiry’s methodology, findings and recommendations. More importantly, it tells the story of the human cost of Paterson’s malpractice and the healthcare system’s failure to stop him, and something of the enduring impact this has had on the lives of so many people.