County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust says its patient support arrangements will remain open over the weekend after a BBC programme examines failings in its breast services and includes the experiences of women affected.
The programme is due to be broadcast on the evening of Friday 18 September. It will include interviews with Trust chief executive Steve Russell and chief nurse Gill Hunt, alongside accounts from women who have been affected.
The Trust said it remained deeply sorry to the women and families harmed and let down by the failings. It acknowledged that there were opportunities to listen more carefully, ask more questions and act sooner.
It said it could not change what had happened, but had a responsibility to be open about it, support those affected and ensure lessons resulted in lasting change.
Support available to patients and families
The Trust has been meeting women and patients affected by the review to hear their experiences, answer questions and understand the impact on them and their families. It said those conversations would continue.
It also warned that the BBC programme and wider discussion about breast services could cause further worry or distress. A dedicated patient support line and email will be available over the weekend following the broadcast.
Anyone concerned about their breast care can contact the team on 0191 333 2126 or email [email protected].
Patients who have previously received breast care from the Trust do not need to contact it simply because they were treated there. However, anyone worried about their care can contact the dedicated support team.
Review of past care continues
The look-back into past breast care is continuing with support from an independent specialist clinical review. If the review identifies concerns about an individual patient’s care, the Trust says it will contact that person directly.
Those patients will be told what has been found, what it means for them and what further support or clinical care may be needed. The Trust said it understood that women and families wanted answers about what had happened and would continue to provide updates as the work progressed.
Changes made to the breast service
The Trust said the service operating today is significantly different from the service described in independent reviews. Changes include experienced external specialist leadership, two new specialist oncoplastic consultant breast surgeons and a multidisciplinary approach in which patients are discussed by a full team of specialists.
Other changes include care based on current national guidance, improved one-stop breast assessment clinics, investment in breast imaging supported by external specialist radiology expertise, a dedicated breast pain clinic, and stronger clinical oversight and governance.
According to recent data cited by the Trust, the number of women requiring a mastectomy has fallen to the national average, immediate breast reconstruction rates have tripled and the need for a second operation to fully remove a cancer has halved.
More than 80% of patients now have surgery as a day case, while fewer patients need diagnostic surgery. More than a third of cancer operations now use advanced oncoplastic techniques, which the Trust says support better recovery and cosmetic outcomes.
The Trust said the improvements were making a measurable difference, but recognised that rebuilding trust would take time and that more work remained.
Public Board meeting in Durham
An extraordinary Trust Board meeting will take place at 9am on Thursday 24 September at Prospect House, Durham. The meeting will be livestreamed and held in public.
The Board will consider the future scope and timeframe of the breast services look-back. It will review the evidence, available options and a recommendation before reaching a decision.
No final decision has yet been made. The Board paper and supporting information will be published in the Trust’s Board Meetings and Papers section before the meeting.
The Trust said it would issue a further update after the meeting explaining the Board’s decision, what it means for the look-back and what happens next.