An NHS trust criticised for its breast cancer care service says it has taken “significant” action to improve the safety of its service, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
An independent report released in November laid bare the “systemic failings” within the service, operated by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and found that red flags and warnings were ignored.
It comes after an investigation was launched into the service, which is run from the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital, following concerns over the care being delivered for at least the past decade.
The Aubrey Report confirmed that unnecessary surgeries were carried out, cancers were missed, and poor standards of care were delivered to women during a hugely vulnerable time in their lives while being treated for cancer.
The Trust has since apologised for its failings and is investigating hundreds of cases.
In a progress update on the improvements, councillors in Darlington were told the service now provided by the trust reflects national guidelines and patients receive the same treatment options as patients being treated in other hospitals.
A report to the committee read: “We have taken significant action to develop a safe service and to ensure that patients referred and accepted into our breast service receive care within the national expected guidelines.
“Our breast assessment clinics are now run in line with modern accepted standards, and patient appointments are longer to enable this and to offer compassionate care.
“We have put additional equipment in place to reduce unnecessary further operations.”
A previous review found governance around such intimate surgery was “inadequate, inconsistent and failed to ensure patient safety”.
One woman, who underwent major cancer surgery, only to be told it was ‘not necessary’, said she was unsupported despite the “traumatic” operation.
Recalling receiving the news via telephone, she said: “Until this point, I thought that while my care had been cold, impersonal and lacking in support, it was at least appropriate, but learning that it wasn’t has truly been dreadful.”
The trust said it is committed to meeting with patients, listening to their experiences, and ensuring they receive the support they need. It has since temporarily reduced the number of patients it sees weekly.
The report added: “The reduction in our capacity has impacted the timeliness of care provision not only to County Durham and Darlington patients but also to the wider North East and North Cumbria population and therefore patients may not be seen and treated in the timescales that they were prior to our actions in March of this year.
“We are sorry for these delays; we are working closely across the region to collaborate on a model of care that is safe but also sustainable in providing timely care.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
