An extraordinary meeting will be held this week following shocking revelations that 20 women needlessly had their breasts removed while under the care of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CCDFT).
The meeting on 24 September will consider the future scope and timeframe of the breast services look-back following the revelations last week in a BBC documentary.
Speaking in the documentary, chief executive, Steve Russell, said: ‘There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am. What happened was utterly unacceptable.'
A review of 1,472 breast surgery cases from January 2023 to February 2025 is ongoing, but may go back to 2015 to consider 4,500 cases. Thirty-nine cases dating back to January 31 have been reviewed so far. Three hundred and twenty-one cases of harm were identified. One person is known to have died.
Denise Howarth was under the care of surgeon Amir Bhatti and is one of 1,500 patients whose breast cancer treatment is being reviewed.
She said: ‘You put your trust in professional people. To be so badly let down is something I'll never be able to come to terms with.'
CCDFT said the service patients received today was ‘very different' listing a number of changes that had been implemented, including:
- 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.
The National Care Agency Major Crime Investigative Support Unit is assisting Durham Police in an investigation into allegations of criminal offences.
