County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is today reminding patients who have concerns about the care they have received through its breast surgery service, that support is available.
Patients can call the information and support line on 0191 3332126, or email the team at cddft.
The reminder comes ahead of a BBC documentary – scheduled to air tomorrow evening (Friday 28 November) – which is expected to examine the issues in CDDFT's breast surgery service in detail and feature the experience of some of our patients.
The Trust is also stressing the importance of patients continuing to attend appointments within the service, following changes that have been made to bring the service in line with national guidelines and seeking help from their GP if they have any symptoms or changes that they are worried about.
Earlier this week the Trust set out a comprehensive programme of reform and improvement after an independent external review identified serious and long-standing weaknesses in clinical oversight, leadership action and accountability, and governance processes. This enabled poor clinical practice to persist.
CDDFT has accepted all findings and, in addition to having implemented improvements to the Breast Service, has outlined further plans to deliver organisation-wide change. These were discussed at this week's Board meeting which took place in public.
CDDFT Chief executive Steve Russell said: "We understand this period of intense scrutiny on our breast surgery service is difficult for those patients and their families who have been impacted by us failing to provide the standards of care they deserve. We are deeply sorry for our shortcomings and would urge anyone with concerns to get in touch with us for support.
"We also understand that it might affect people’s trust in the service but would urge patients receiving care to continue to attend their appointments as usual. The service is fundamentally different to that which is described in the reviews and while there is more to do, significant improvements are in place. We'd like to assure our communities that we are committed to a future of openness, transparency and sustainable change, and rebuilding confidence in our services."
The Trust has set out its response to the governance review which details:
- An apology to patients and their families
- The support that is available to patients who have been affected
- The changes that have been implemented in the breast surgery service
- The changes that are being implemented across the Trust
