Private hospitals must share more data with NHS, says top surgeon

Ian Paterson scandal prompts call for more oversight of safety in private hospitals

The leader of the Royal College of Surgeons of England is calling for private hospitals to be encouraged to publish information on their safety to prevent another scandal like the one involving jailed breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson.

"The surgical community was deeply shocked by the case of Ian Paterson, the surgeon convicted of intentionally wounding patients by carrying out unnecessary breast surgery operations," said Prof Derek Alderson, president of the organisation.