Twenty women in north-east England underwent unnecessary mastectomies during their breast cancer treatment, as confirmed by the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) to the BBC. This shocking revelation is part of a broader scandal involving hundreds of patients who experienced harm while receiving care at the trust’s breast unit. The admission comes in the wake of serious failures reported by the BBC last year, which have left many patients and their families devastated.
Steve Russell, the newly appointed chief executive of CDDFT, expressed his deep regret, stating, “I apologise unreservedly for the harm the trust caused.” The gravity of the situation has led to calls for a public inquiry into the trust’s practices. One former NHS worker, Jo, who had a mastectomy in 2021, was informed in a phone call this year that her procedure could have been avoided. She described her feelings of shock and betrayal, saying, “What happened was utterly unacceptable… I feel mutilated.”
The consultant in charge of Jo and another patient, Denise, was Mr. Amir Bhatti, who has been criticized for not adequately managing conflicts of interest within the unit. Pam, another patient, shared her horror at the surgical outcomes, stating that she felt “butchered” and had never seen scarring like it before. “That’s not acceptable at all,” she exclaimed, expressing her frustration at the lack of revision surgeries offered to correct the mistakes.
These unnecessary surgeries have left lasting scars—both physically and emotionally. O’Riordan, another medical professional, emphasized the severity of the situation, saying, “You can’t put a breast back. These are lifelong disfigurements, and it’s horrific.” The community is now rallying together at the Beamish Football Centre in Stanley, where a support group has formed for women and their families to share their experiences of inadequate treatment by CDDFT’s breast care unit.
Lynn, one of the group’s organizers, shared her own struggles since her surgery in 2016, stating, “I’ve felt terrible ever since.” The emotional toll on these women is evident, with many expressing feelings of being overwhelmed and distressed. As the call for accountability grows louder, the impacted women and their families are left wondering what the future holds in terms of justice and proper care.
How many more stories like these are out there? As pressure mounts for a full investigation, the community watches closely, hoping for answers and, more importantly, for a change in the system that has let them down.
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber