Doctors who ran hospital where rogue breast surgeon worked face GMC charges

The former chief executive and medical director of the NHS trust where the breast surgeon Ian Paterson worked are facing allegations that they knew of serious concerns about his clinical practice but failed to tell the General Medical Council.

Mark Goldman, who was chief executive of Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust from 2001 to 2010, and Ian Cunliffe, who was medical director from 2007 to 2010, face charges over their conduct as managers, rarely brought against doctors by the GMC.

The case is not expected to be heard by a medical practitioners tribunal until well into next year. But last week their counsel Mark Sutton QC argued at a preliminary hearing that the GMC should …