00:01The County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust is working through a significant backlog of
00:06breast cancer treatment reviews, including cases dating back to 2019.
00:10A report last year found failures in patient care, including missed cancers, unnecessary
00:15surgeries and poor standards, conducted across the University Hospital of North Durham and
00:20Darlington Memorial Hospital. Of 357 completed reviews, 8 women suffered severe harm and 46
00:27moderate harm. The Trust is recruiting more staff to complete the remaining cases, which
00:32number over 1,000. Trust leaders emphasise patient safety is improved and services now
00:38align with national guidelines. A public portal encourages anyone potentially affected by
00:43surgical errors to come forward. Durham Constabulary is investigating whether any crimes occurred.
00:48Changes to the service include improved assessment, diagnosis and treatment methods. Trust executives
00:54stress their focus remains on supporting affected women, ensuring consistent care and rebuilding
00:59public confidence. They are working to enhance governance structures, maintain treatment standards
01:04comparable to other hospitals and prioritise transparency and responsiveness. Community
01:09representatives have raised concerns over delays and past failures. The Trust aims to complete
01:14reviews more efficiently and maintain open communication with patients. Services now incorporate
01:19updated protocols to prevent recurrence of past mistakes, reflecting both clinical best practice
01:25and also national oversight.
Comments