County Durham and Darlington health bosses meet to discuss future of review into breast cancer service
Hundreds of women say they've been failed by the NHS service
An extraordinary meeting's taking place today to consider the future of a review into breast cancer care across County Durham and Darlington.
Hundreds of women say they've been failed by the NHS service with many having unnecessary treatment or suffering severe harm.
The Trust's Board will consider the future scope and timeframe of the breast services look-back.
Catriona Dunbar is from Stanley is one of those affected and she said: "I think we have to look back further. That time period is when they were already investigating issues within the breast care department and the trust in general and to have gotten to that point, there are women that will have been affected that go far beyond those dates.
"They've not chosen to look at those dates for no reason. They have gotten to that point because of complaints, because there were issues existing within the trust. And those women deserve accountability as much as I do. Therefore, I don't think it's a question of whether or not they look back. The question is how far they should look back.
"I support an inquiry. More than that I 100% support being a part of trying to change laws to ensure this cannot happen again. So many women across Durham and Darlington have found commonality and support and help and advice at what has been an already significantly distressing time.
"Discovering that your care was far below the standard of national guidelines and to date nobody has been able to explain to me how that was able to occur has been beyond devastating. Cancer shouldn't have been the byline of what happened to me."
Chloe Gibson, a solicitor with Slater and Gordon who's representing some of the women, said: "Themes that we have seen include unnecessary surgeries like mastectomies, failures to offer reconstruction at the same time and delays in diagnosis of cancer. I can't comprehend going through a diagnosis to then be told that I may have had the incorrect treatment.
"There is the physical impact but also the mental health impact that something like this has on a person. Failures like this can have devastating long-term consequences. The scale of the issue should be investigated thoroughly. There are lessons to be learned and justice needs to be done.
"All women who have potentially been affected by the failures have a right to be informed and to be provided with support. It has been suggested that the reviews from 2023 to 2025 be completed and then extend the review retrospectively one year at a time, so working back towards 2015. The review should cover all patients potentially affected by the failures.
"If they're going to extend the review retrospectively one year at a time, how long is it going to take for the reviews to be concluded? Waiting and not knowing is hard and these women deserve answers now. We understand that undertaking these reviews will not be easy, but a thorough investigation needs to take place."
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
The Trust said: "We remain deeply sorry to the women and families who have been harmed and let down by failings in our breast services.
"There were opportunities when, as a Trust, we should have listened more carefully, asked more questions and acted sooner. We cannot change what happened, but we have a responsibility to be open about it, support those affected and make sure what we learn leads to lasting change.
"We continue to focus on supporting the patients and families affected, completing the review of past care, and continuing to improve the service patients receive today.
"We have been meeting and speaking directly with many of the women and patients affected by the review to listen to their experiences, answer questions and understand the impact on them and their families.
"These conversations are important and will continue."
Reviewing past care
The breast services look-back continues, supported by independent specialist clinical review.
The Trust says where a review identifies concerns about an individual patient's care, they will contact that person directly to explain what has been found, what it means for them and what further support or clinical care may be needed.
They added that patients do not need to contact them simply because they have previously received breast care from the Trust. However, anyone who is worried about their care can contact their dedicated support team.
The Trust said: "We know this work is important to women and families who want answers about what happened. We will continue to be open about what we find and provide updates as the work progresses."
The Trust has a dedicated patient support line and email.
Anyone with concerns about their breast care can contact the team on:
Telephone: 0191 333 2126
Email: [email protected]
Breast services today
Alongside the look-back, significant changes have been made to the breast service.
The Trust says the service patients receive today is very different from the service described in the independent reviews.
Changes include:
- Experienced external specialist leadership to support the stabilisation and transformation of the service;
- Two new specialist oncoplastic consultant breast surgeons;
- A multidisciplinary approach, with patients discussed by a full team of specialists;
- Care based on current national guidance;
- Improvements to one-stop breast assessment clinics;
- Investment in breast imaging, supported by external specialist radiology expertise;
- A dedicated breast pain clinic;
- Stronger clinical oversight and governance.
Recent data has shown that:
- The number of women requiring a mastectomy has reduced to the national average;
- Immediate breast reconstruction rates have tripled;
- The need for a second operation to fully remove a cancer has halved;
- More than 80% of patients now have their surgery as a day case;
- Fewer patients need diagnostic surgery;
- More than a third of cancer operations now use advanced oncoplastic techniques, supporting better recovery and cosmetic outcomes
The Trust said: "These improvements matter, but we know that rebuilding trust takes time. There is more to do and that work continues."