Lawyers acting for the victims of rogue surgeon Jayant Patel yesterday announced that two people were the first to settle for compensation.

It is understood one of the compensation claimants, a 75-year-old man, had his settlement fast-tracked because he was on his death bed dying from cancer.

The terms of both settlements are subject to confidentiality agreements. Bundaberg Hospital Patients Support Group solicitor Ian Brown negotiated the deals after meeting with Queensland Government lawyers.

“All I can say is that they are very happy with the outcome and are releived that this part of the process is now over,” Mr Brown said.

Victims support group leader Beryl Crosby said the dying man’s wife was focused on her husband’s health and was not interested in talking about the settlement.

It is understood she has not even discussed it with him.

“Money means nothing to them, but it was a good outcome,” Ms Crosby said. “That’s the sort of people they are.”

Ms Crosby expected the settlements would open the floodgates and she knew of other victims who were considering settling soon.

Queensland Health was very fair and reasonable today and we hope it will continue,” she said.

Attorney-General Linda Lavarch said three more settlement conferences had been scheduled for later this week, and others would follow soon.

“The fact that the claims under the Bundaberg Special Process have started to flow through the system is a concrete example of the Government’s commitment to assist former patients of Dr Patel,” Ms Lavarch said.

The Government has received more than 200 preliminary claims for compensation as a result of allegedly botched operations by Dr Patel.