NHS trust in England may widen breast care review

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has apologised again to patients and families harmed by failings in its breast services, ahead of a board decision on whether to widen its review of past care.

“There were opportunities when, as a Trust, we should have listened more carefully, asked more questions and acted sooner,” the trust said in a statement, adding that it remained “deeply sorry” to those affected.

The trust said a BBC programme about its breast services was due to air on 18 September, featuring interviews with chief executive Steve Russell and chief nurse Gill Hunt.

It said the programme, and the wider discussion around breast services, could cause further distress to patients and families.

An independent clinical review of past cases, known as the breast services look-back, was continuing, the trust said, and patients found to have care concerns would be contacted directly.

The trust said it had been meeting directly with many of the women affected, to listen to their experiences and understand the impact on them and their families.

An extraordinary board meeting would be held on 24 September to consider the future scope and timeframe of the look-back, the trust said, adding that no final decision had yet been made.

The trust said changes already made to the service, including two new specialist breast surgeons and a multidisciplinary approach to care, had improved outcomes for patients.

Mastectomy rates had fallen to the national average and rates of immediate breast reconstruction had tripled, it said.

Patients with concerns about their breast care could contact a dedicated support line or email, which would remain open over the weekend following the programme, the trust said.