Review published into breast cancer failings at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust
The Trust has apologised
An independent review into a breast cancer care service in County Durham has highlighted multiple missed opportunities and failures to act.
Hundreds of cases are being investigated with a report saying "persistent concerns" had been raised since 2012 at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
Some high priority recommendations included strengthening governance leadership and assurance structures, adopting constrast-enhanced mammography and mammotome, checking to see if locum consultants are on the GMC specialist register, and continuing the retrospective review of breast surgery patients.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust apology
Alison Marshall, Interim Chair and Steve Russell, Chief Executive, said: “We are deeply sorry for the distress, pain and loss of trust experienced by patients and families affected by the failures in our breast services. We recognise the trauma many have endured - missed cancers, delays in diagnosis, unnecessary procedures and care that fell far below the standards they deserved. We let our patients down, and for that we are profoundly sorry.
“We accept the findings of recent reviews and the recommendations in full. This should not have happened. We have published our response which sets out how we are and will continue to strengthen our leadership, governance, and clinical oversight to ensure that quality becomes our organising principle.
“While the response acknowledges some of the early steps we have taken, we are absolutely clear that there is much more to do. We will work tirelessly to rebuild trust - with patients, with staff, and with the wider communities. We will ensure that our services, and the actions we now take, are shaped by what our patients are telling us about their experiences.
“These reports make for extremely difficult reading. They highlight multiple missed opportunities, failures to act with curiosity, and a lack of the problem-sensing mindset needed to keep patients safe. We will learn from this - openly, honestly, and with the urgency this situation demands.
“This is a pivotal moment for our organisation. Supported fully by the Trust Board, we will deliver our response, strengthen the fundamentals of care, and ensure that such failings do not happen again. We are determined to build a safer, more compassionate and more effective organisation for every patient who needs us.”
Earlier this year, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust began a review into its breast surgery services.
You can read the independent review here.
You can find CDDFT's response to the findings and setting out how they're taking action on the recommendations here.
For more information, visit the CDDFT website.