More than 200 private patients at a hospital linked to the Ian Paterson breast surgery scandal have been recalled over concerns a surgeon may have performed “unnecessary” operations on them.

Orthopaedic surgeon Habib Rahman is alleged to have performed unnecessary or inappropriate shoulder procedures at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, West Midlands, lawyers said.

Some 217 private patients have been asked to have a follow-up with an independent specialist “to review their care and to understand more about their post-operative recovery”, said Spire Healthcare, the UK’s second-largest private healthcare business

Thompsons Solicitors said it was acting on behalf of at least one of his patients and the General Medical Council (GMC) said it was investigating Mr Rahman.

Linda Millband, clinical negligence lead at the firm, said she was “determined that Spire do not get away with brushing yet another recall under what must be a pretty big carpet by now”.

The Spire Parkway was one of the hospitals where disgraced breast surgeon Mr Paterson worked.

He was jailed for 20 years in 2017 for intentionally wounding his patients by exaggerating or inventing cancer risks and claiming payments for more expensive procedures.

Ian Paterson court case
Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson (Joe Giddens/PA)

Private provider Spire withdrew Mr Rahman’s operating licence in May following a review by the Royal College of Surgeons.

But the NHS trust which employs him said he is continuing to work in the health service under “interim restrictions”, which were placed on him in July last year.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said it had not recalled any of his NHS patients.

Under his restrictions, Mr Rahman must be supervised in all of his posts by a clinical supervisor.

Ms Millband said: “A second patient recall and another rogue surgeon operating unnecessarily at Mr Paterson’s old private hospital suggests systemic failings.

“This could be the tip of the iceberg, so we encourage others who feel they have received similar unnecessary care from Mr Habib Rahman or indeed any other surgeon at a Spire hospital to come forward.

“We are committed through our Patients Before Profit Campaign to expose poor patient treatment at private hospitals and are determined that Spire do not get away with brushing yet another recall under what must be a pretty big carpet by now.”

Spire swung to a first-half profit last year after it was buoyed by cost-cutting measures and increased numbers of NHS referrals.

The company reported a £9.6 million pre-tax profit for the six months to June 2019, rising from a £2.2 million loss in the same period in 2018.

A Spire spokesman said: “Following the Royal College’s guidance, we wrote to all shoulder patients who were identified as requiring follow up to offer them a consultation with an independent surgeon to review their care and to understand more about their post-operative recovery.

“That process is still ongoing.

“We would encourage patients who have received a letter to follow up on our offer of a free review by an independent specialist to ensure their care has been as expected.”