Overview

• The trust issued a formal apology on July 24 for systemic failings in its breast cancer service, acknowledging outdated practices led to excess surgery and delayed diagnoses.
• A look-back exercise has reviewed 123 patient cases and involved more than 80 interviews, with affected individuals being contacted directly about substandard care.
• Two new consultant breast surgeons have been recruited, modern diagnostic and surgical equipment is being installed, and multidisciplinary team processes have been strengthened.
• A dedicated patient helpline and email address have been launched to allow those with concerns to share experiences and receive support.
• Ongoing remediation follows probes by the Northern Cancer Alliance and the Royal College of Surgeons, whose April report included 21 recommendations for service improvement.