It’s been nearly three decades since Sherrie Hewson departed Corrie as Maureen Webster.

First known for her relationship with supermarket manager Reg Holdsworth, the much-loved character.

She also went on to marry the legendary Fred Elliott and Bill Webster, before she departed from the ITV soap in 1997.

But now, speaking to new online bingo brand Zingo Bingo, Sherrie has opened up on the potential love interest she’d like to see for Maureen if she were to return to the cobbles.

Sherrie – who has since gone on to star in both Hollyoaks and Emmerdale – lifted the lid on why she’d love to make a Corrie comeback.

She told Zingo Bingo: “I loved every second of Coronation Street. It was a wonderful show to be part of. I still watch it now. I love it, and I’d go back in a heartbeat.

“Maureen’s still alive, and I think my character lives in Germany? I married Fred Elliott.

“Then I married Kevin Webster’s father, Bill Webster, and we went to Germany. I’m Sally Webster’s ex-mother-in-law, so I still belong.

“Bill Webster owned the garage, so I believe Maureen has part of that garage. I think Kevin Webster owes her some of that garage, and I could go back and demand part of the garage, so there’s a storyline!

“I always tell people, when they go into soaps, take your year’s contract. That’s all you’ve got, and if you get another year, it’s a bonus.

“You’re very lucky if they go, we like this character, we’ll write for this character, and we’ll keep this character.

“That is luck, and it’s fabulous, but it might not happen. I was there for a long time. I was very sad to leave and sad to say goodbye to everybody. I was terribly sad to leave, but in these soaps, you don’t go in them for life.

“That’s how everybody should look at it and go, it’s been great to be here, but I understand if my stories come to an end or the writers feel that there isn’t anything else to write about.”

Emmerdale and Coronation Street to see schedule changes this week

The England v Uruguay match will air from 7pm on ITV1 on Friday, March 27, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

Since it crosses over into the soap slots, Emmerdale and Corrie have both changed their usual schedules.

Emmerdale fans tune into the soap from 8pm on ITV1 on Monday through to Friday but this week, the Friday episode on March 27 will not air.

Instead, fans can look forward to an episode at 6pm on Sunday, March 29.

Coronation Street usually airs from 8.30pm on the same channel on Monday through to Friday but Friday’s episode won’t air.

Who would you love to see return to Coronation Street? Let us know in the comments

Tap water may be safe to drink, but if you’re dealing with London’s notoriously hard water, full of chlorine and heavy metals, you’ll notice the effects in your hair and skin.

Curo Skin removes 99 per cent of these impurities through its filters that work effectively, even with hot water, for 90 days. The design-led showerhead, available in gold, silver and black finishes to suit most interiors, and eco-friendly, replaceable filter takes minutes to attach to standard shower rails and looks pleasingly high-end, upgrading your bathroom aesthetic as well as your water quality.

“We have been stressing so much over how we were going to pay to help keep me alive, now we have a way.”

A newlywed battling an aggressive tumour has been left “overwhelmed” after a fundraising drive for life-extending treatment smashed £125,000 in just three days.

Bryan Peterson, 49, and wife Karlin were braced for an uncertain financial fight to fund pioneering immunotherapy treatment in Germany after he received a stage 4 Glioblastoma diagnosis on July 10 last year.

The couple, from Shetland, cried tears of joy after an incredible response from the public on a GoFundMe page.

Bryan, an independent councillor for Shetland South, admitted he was reluctant to launch the donations page, fearing it would burden others.

But speaking from his home, he told the Record: “We have been stressing so much over how we were going to pay to help keep me alive, now we have a way.”

Bryan’s devastating diagnosis came after a seizure at work. He was rushed to hospital on the island where MRI scans revealed a lesion on his brain.

He underwent brain surgery, which he was awake for, in Aberdeen, and began chemotherapy – but was given between just 12 and 16 months to live.

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He recalled: “I had my seizure and immediately had an MRI. They noticed a lesion on my brain. They didn’t frighten us with the word cancer but one month later, on my wedding anniversary, we were told it was a cancerous tumour.

“When the life expectancy was laid out to us, my wife was shattered and bawling her eyes out. That’s when it became real.

“She was so upset but that’s when you have two decisions; fight on or fall away. We chose to fight.”

Now, the couple are pinning their hopes on cutting-edge immunotherapy at a specialist clinic in Cologne, Germany – a treatment not available on the NHS.

The treatment involves a personalised vaccine designed using Bryan’s own tumour cells, offering hope of extending his life beyond current expectations.

But the couple face medical bills upwards of £100,000 for the first six-month treatment. They launched a fundraiser to raise £150,000 to cover their costs, including ongoing care, travel and monitoring.

Bryan admits predicting how much time it could give him is difficult. He continued: “It is such a personalised treatment so it’s difficult to give an accurate number of months or years which receiving this procedure can add to my lifespan.

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“It should add at least double what I was predicted to live through the NHS.

“We were trying to fight on as much as we could ourselves but the Shetland community has been amazing. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude and relief. We have raised £125,000 in three days, it’s crazy.

“I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to burden people with my family problem.

“My wife is a jeweller who even made Kate Middleton’s wedding earrings. She had to leave work early on Friday because she was crying so much at everyone’s generosity.”

After his immunotherapy, Bryan will move onto the next phase of treatment, which involves keeping on top of the forever mutating tumour and adjusting the treatments to suit, which will continue for the duration of his life.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit their GoFundMe page here.

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TUV Councillor asks “What genders are they proposing?”

A Sinn Féin proposal to detail gender inequality at Belfast City Council has led to strange and tense exchanges between a TUV councillor and council officials at City Hall.

At the council’s March meeting of its Standards and Business Committee, a motion titled “Gender Budgeting” by Councillor Áine McCabe was sent to the council’s important Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for further discussion.

The motion states: “This council acknowledges the potential benefits of gender budgeting in addressing systemic gender inequalities for all in our society, as well as improving equality for those whom we are providing services for, through thoughtful and deliberative financial planning.”

READ MORE: DUP puberty blocker motion described as ‘grotesque’ at Belfast City Hall

READ MORE: Chief Executive of Belfast Council says Stormont decision on Ormeau Bridge “makes no sense”

The motion proposes the officials perform a “gender data audit” to ensure “maximum impact of data” and to understand what gaps exist relating to the scale of gender inequality at City Hall, with the aim of “achieving better equality outcomes and more targeted resource allocation.”

It adds: “Annual review of progress will determine further steps in auditing and where progress allows for the phased adoption of gender budgeting tools.”

While the debate of motions is not permitted at the Standards and Business Committee, when the item was tabled, there were a series of unusual exchanges between elected representatives and officials.

When the item was raised, TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said: “Just for the purposes of clarity, what genders are they proposing?”

The City Solicitor, Nora Largey, said: “It would be my understanding that it could be confined to male and female. It depends on the gender audit what the outcomes of that would be in terms of any issues in the workforce.”

Councillor McDowell said: “If it is male and female, is that comprehensive, of everyone who works for the council?” The City Solicitor replied: “It would be an audit of all council staff.”

Councillor McDowell returned: “Where do we stand if people are asked what their gender is, and if they are uncomfortable with the question?”

The City Solicitor said: “The detail of the proposal is that we work with the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, and it would be for them to set the terms and references for it.”

Councillor McDowell said: “There is so much presumption in the proposal we don’t have the full detail, and you are adding to the detail based on what you think, rather than what you know is in the proposal.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Ronan McLaughlin raised a “point of order” and said: “This is not the forum to discuss motions.” He added: “It has been referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, and I am sure Councillor McDowell can make himself free on a Friday if he chooses, but this is not the remit of this committee to get into the minutiae of the motion.”

Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn, who chairs the Standards and Business Committee, said Councillor McLaughlin was correct, and said proceedings would “move on.”

At this point, DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “I don’t know where it says that in the standing order, but I want you to make it clear, you are denying me my democratic right.” Councillor Flynn replied: “To be fair, your party started this committee, it is your baby, not mine.” Another official confirmed the motion could not be debated at that level, and the committee moved on.

The Standards and Business Committee was created at City Hall in April 2021, pushed through on Sinn Féin and DUP votes, and designed to fast-track, refer, or dismiss motions without ratification from the full council, and without debate. It was described by People Before Profit as an attempt “to shut the voices of smaller parties,” and was looked upon with suspicion by Alliance, the SDLP and the Green Party.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Six groups of people automatically qualify for the Motability Scheme to lease a car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, powered wheelchair or scooter

People facing mobility challenges often find transport costs mounting rapidly, whether they’re using their own car or depending on taxis for journeys. However, support is accessible through a programme designed to assist disabled people experiencing mobility difficulties.

The Motability Scheme enables individuals to lease a car, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, a powered wheelchair, or a scooter to enhance their ability to travel independently. The scheme operates throughout the United Kingdom, with certain groups automatically meeting the eligibility criteria for a vehicle. It’s vital to understand this isn’t a “free car” arrangement – rather, participants exchange some or all of their enhanced mobility component from a qualifying disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Recent statistics reveal approximately 815,000 people are currently benefiting from the scheme. Citizens Advice has outlined the eligibility requirements and application process. The guidance is for people living in England, however the rules are similar for the rest of the UK, reports the Mirror.

In Northern Ireland, a rule change in January 2026 means some cars sold in Great Britain will no longer be approved for sale in Northern Ireland (NI), but Motability say this will only affect a few models available to lease through its scheme, with many options available. People living in Scotland can also access the service through the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme which is identical to the Motability Scheme and run by the same organisation, Motability Operations.

Citizens Advice explained how the scheme works and who qualifies: “If you receive a benefit because you have a disability or illness that makes it hard for you to get around, you can use it to pay for a vehicle from a charity called Motability. You can choose from lots of different vehicles, for example cars, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs.

“You’ll only be paying for the lease of the vehicle – it won’t belong to you. If you stop receiving your benefit, you’ll have to return it.”

Who automatically qualifies?

There are six groups of people who automatically qualify for the scheme. These are those eligible for:

• the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance
• the higher rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment
• the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment

It advises: “When you apply for a Motability vehicle, you must have at least 12 months left before your benefit ends – check your benefit decision letter if you’re not sure. You can’t apply for a Motability vehicle if you’re getting DLA and the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) has sent you a letter saying you need to apply for PIP. You won’t be affected if you already have a Motability vehicle.

“If you don’t drive, you can still get a Motability vehicle and choose someone else to drive it. You can choose up to two people to drive on your behalf.”

How the scheme works

Those who qualify can use some or all of their mobility componant to pay for a vehicle from a charity called Motability. There is a wide range of different vehicles to choose from including cars, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

Anyone using the scheme pays for the lease of the vehicle which means it does not belong to them. When the benefit stops it must be returned.

The claimant’s benefit goes directly to the Motability Scheme every month which pays for the lease. The amount of benefit that goes towards the vehicle depends on which one they select.

People might need to make a payment up front if they choose a more expensive vehicle. Some help might be available with this depending on individual circumstances. You can find additional information on this by visiting the Motability website.

What you will get

In addition to your vehicle, you will also get:

Will it affect my benefits?

The Motability Scheme will not affect your benefits as it is not means-tested. This means it is not affected by your income, savings, or other financial circumstances.

It might be darker mornings but the nights will start to be lighter

Sunday will see the clocks change as British Summer Time begins, heralding the way for brighter nights across the UK. Many have already begun to get accustomed to later daylight hours with the arrival of spring just days ago.

However the big change comes at 1am on Sunday, March 29, when the clocks “spring forward” pushing the daylight away from the start of the day to later in the evening. While it will mean darker mornings it will also see sunset jumping forward an hour – plus the few extra minutes it grows by naturally.

Timeanddate.com explains we gain just under four minutes of extra daylight each day in March. While the exact timings differ slightly depending on where you live, in London on March 28, the eve of British Summer Time beginning, sunrise is at 5.45am and sunset at 6.26pm, resulting in daylight lasting 12 hours, 41 minutes and 50 seconds.

On March 29, accounting for the clock change, the sun rises at 6.42am and sets at 7.28pm. This equates to 12 hours, 45 minutes and 47 seconds of daylight.

Meanwhile, further north in Scotland, people in Edinburgh will have about four and a half minutes more daylight each day during March. By Saturday, the day before British Summer Time, sunrise is at 5.54am with sunset at 6.42pm, meaning daylight lasts for 12 hours, 48 minutes and 37 seconds.

Following the clock change, on Sunday, sunrise will be at 6.51am with sunset at 7.44pm. This will deliver 12 hours, 53 minutes and 17 seconds of daylight.

Do we get more time in bed this weekend?

Sadly no, as the Royal Observatory Greenwich explains. It said: “Unfortunately, the clocks moving forward means that we lose an hour in bed.”

It added: “An easy way to remember which way the clocks change at which time of year is to remember that the clocks ‘spring forward’ in spring, and ‘fall back’ in autumn.”

Marcus Rashford was lively against Uruguay, while Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon currently appears favourite to start in that position at the World Cup, with Arsenal forward Noni Madueke also comfortable on both flanks.

Tuchel has spoken about Foden as an unorthodox deputy for captain Harry Kane as a central striker, but this would surely be too much of a stretch. The World Cup is no place for wild experiments.

It all leaves Foden as one of the players whose place on the plane to the United States is uncertain, wondering if a big opportunity had passed him by against Uruguay.

England’s struggle to impose themselves on Uruguay meant it was a testing night for those wanting to impress.

“There’s no-one out there in a red shirt that looked over to the bench and said, ‘I’m ready. I’m going to America. I want a ticket for that plane’,” said ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire made the most of his recall in defence with a solid display, capped by two brave, crucial blocks in the closing stages as Uruguay pressed for an unlikely winner.

He is now a serious contender for the squad, especially with fitness doubts continuing to surround John Stones. Tuchel may also find Maguire’s experience at major tournaments crucial.

James Trafford had little to do on his debut in goal, while another making his first full appearance, Everton’s James Garner, was tidy and made a good impression. Whether it is enough for a World Cup place is another matter.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke worked hard in attack as he pressed his claim to be understudy to Kane, but Leeds United’s Calvert-Lewin – whose last appearance was five years ago – will bitterly regret his missed opportunity with the scoreline goalless.

Princess Beatrice has had a tough few months, with her parents’ links to Jeffrey Epstein being exposed and her dad Prince Andrew being arrested

Princess Beatrice has endured a difficult few months. Initially, her disgraced parents faced removal from their Royal Lodge residence due to their connection with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, then her father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, and now speculation has emerged suggesting that her marriage is facing difficulties.

Following the most recent release of Epstein documents which exposed the full extent of the relationship between Epstein, Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson, attention has been firmly focused on the York family. Sarah Ferguson has maintained a low profile, while Andrew has established a mobile home at his Sandringham residence, reportedly to accommodate staff working around the clock. Sarah has been stripped of her “Freedom of the City of York” honour after a unanimous vote.

Meanwhile, their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie have been drawn into the consequences after their names appeared in the vast number of documents released by the US Congress in the Epstein files. The documents suggest that their association with Epstein – evidently initiated by their parents – was a prolonged one. Mentions in the Epstein files do not indicate wrongdoing.

One exchange from 2011, three years after his conviction for sex trafficking a minor, showed a correspondent, believed to be Ferguson, tell him how Beatrice believes he should be free to move on with his life. The email was sent after Ferguson publicly denounced Epstein to journalist Geordie Greig, while secretly staying in touch.

“Beatrice and I had a discussion and we agreed it was important to call Geordie back and make sure he understood the severity of NOT making a mistake and getting it wrong about Jeffrey, because he was sent to prison for sexual offending, but that he had done his penance and was out of jail and moving on with his life,” the email read. “And Geordie was NOT in anyway to go down the P. route. I duly did the call, and Lee Ashley Johnson was also witness to that call as well as Beatrice.”

A separate exchange from 2010 reveals Epstein enquiring whether there was “any chance” of either sister “saying hello” to an unnamed individual visiting London. In 2015, an unknown account emailed Epstein noting that Beatrice would be joining a group holiday to Mexico. “Oops…in Mexico on the group trip with DK, founder of Twitter etc. and it turns out princess Beatrice will be joining us too.”

“I can see the headlines already. 🙂 Do you still talk to them?” the sender wrote, reports the Mirror. Epstein replied, “she likes me its ok.”

Initially, it appeared that the rest of The Firm was rallying behind the sisters. Both attended Christmas at Sandringham alongside their royal relatives, and there was speculation that Andrew had even agreed to vacate Royal Lodge on the condition that they would be permitted to remain within the family fold.

Since then, however, it has been reported that despite King Charles’s fondness for his nieces, they are no longer welcome at Royal Ascot — and may even skip the annual Easter Sunday church service, as well as forthcoming royal garden parties.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Beatrice and Eugenie are particularly vulnerable at the moment. As they are dragged further into the Epstein web, the King is shifting his stance on the girls’ future. Although they aren’t implicated in any of Epstein’s wrongdoings, their own association with him threatens to tarnish the reputation of the throne.”

It has been suggested that the two sisters are coping with this development in markedly different ways. “Both girls are very highly strung and emotional, like their mother,” a source told the Mail.

“Beatrice is trying to come to terms with it matter-of-factly although can’t help bursting into tears regularly – not for her father but for the implosion of her own world and, especially, the family’s cold shoulder. Her royal status means more to her than Eugenie.”

Eugenie, meanwhile, “has apparently gone into denial – fingers in the ears, head in the sand, hoping it will all go away”. The scandal is said to have placed considerable strain on the marriages of those involved.

Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, has reportedly refused to allow her now-homeless mother Sarah to move into their Portuguese home. A source close to the family revealed that Jack adheres to a “code of honour” which means he won’t “completely desert Andrew and Sarah”, but equally won’t “step into the line of fire himself”.

“His first loyalty has to be to his wife and their two young children. The whole sordid affair has already brought them a great deal of unwarranted attention, and he won’t do anything to increase that,” the source told The Mail. The head of a consultancy firm is said to be concerned about the potential damage the scandal could inflict upon his business, fearing his family will be “tainted by association”.

“Jack has worked very hard building his business, and it’s going well, so the last thing he needs is for the Epstein scandal to taint that,” the source added. “He will do everything he can to keep his head below the parapet because of that.”

The couple are reportedly anxious that Ferguson will not request to move in with them. A further source claimed: “Eugenie and Jack are resisting any suggestion from her mother that she should come and live with them.

“Because, to be frank, Sarah is difficult to live with and they don’t want the responsibility of looking after her at the moment. That’s not to say they are not concerned about her welfare – they just don’t actually want her to be living with them, even temporarily.”

Meanwhile, speculation has emerged regarding potential difficulties in the marriage of Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 42. Beatrice, 37, has been wed to Edoardo since 2020 when they married in a socially distanced ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have two daughters together, Sienna, four, and Athena, one, alongside Edo’s son Christopher ‘Wolfie’ – nine years old – from his previous relationship with Dara Huang.

The couple have not been photographed together in recent weeks and speculation intensified after Edoardo departed her side during a challenging period to travel 4,500 miles away to Palm Beach, Florida. There, he shared Instagram photographs of himself savouring a rosé against the backdrop of an elegant hotel courtyard.

As the co-founder of a property development and design firm – Banda – one ‘former associate’ told the Mail that his professional standing soared after he began a relationship with Beatrice back in 2019: “When they first got together, Edo wasn’t nearly as successful. Being adjacent to royalty was transformative.”

Back in 2019, accounts from Companies House indicated the design arm of the business was £244,000 in debt – yet it now boasts a turnover of £2.2 million. Nevertheless, Edo’s close friends maintain he would never trade on his wife’s name or her family connections.

A source has now made the claim that there is a “noticeable distance” between the pair in the wake of the Epstein scandal, suggesting that “things haven’t been great for a while between them, [but] Beatrice is determined to soldier on and forge a path through this crisis.”

The source further alleged that he “seems more and more distracted by work and travel… just when she needs him most, he’s been pulling away”. Yet an insider told the Mirror that such claims were entirely wide of the mark, with a source close to the couple dismissing any suggestion that their marriage is in trouble.

“This is nonsense,” the source stated, while a second contact told Hello magazine that the businessman’s recent travels had nothing whatsoever to do with the ongoing furore surrounding Andrew and Fergie – insisting instead that the couple face the same pressures as countless other parents who must travel for work.

“The only thing Bea and Edo are navigating are their busy jobs and looking after their children! They’ve both had recent stints working abroad and like so many working parents, have balancing work with looking after the kids,” they said. “Recent reports that things aren’t good between them are not true at all. Things are great between them and the only distance between them recently has been physical distance because of work!”

The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has asked independent experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to look again at the decision not to vaccinate teenagers. There have been separate calls to consider an immunisation programme for university students because of their greater risk.

Amir Bhatti was the clinical lead at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s (CDDFT) breast cancer surgery service when a damning report exposed a ‘decade of missed warnings, ignored red flags, and systemic failures’.

In a statement on Thursday (March 26), the GMC said: “We are aware of the concerns that have been raised.”

Amir Bhatti (Image: SUPPLIED)

The GMC added that it only confirms publicly available information about individual doctors as it appears on the medical register, but does not confirm if it is investigating a doctor unless they have interim restrictions.

Mr Bhatti is registered with a licence to practise with no restrictions on his registration, according to the GMC.

The Northern Echo previously reported that Mr Bhatti was responsible for breast cancer surgery at the trust, and was also director of an outsourced private clinic, which an investigation revealed was paid a share of nearly £6 million over six years to treat women.

A Darlington Memorial Hospital sign (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Between 2022 and 2024, 8,000 of 13,500 referred breast cancer patients were seen in outsourced clinics operating on a “pay-per-patient” basis, through companies including Durham Surgical Services, of which Mr Bhatti was a director.

Mr Bhatti ran NHS “two-week-wait” clinics at Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital North Durham, and Spire Hospital in Washington, through companies including Durham Surgical Services.

An investigation found the trust paid nearly £6 million over six years to private out-of-hours clinics, including a company that Mr Bhatti was a director of.

A spokesperson for Mr Bhatti previously said that “serving the best interests of all our patients is of paramount importance” and when things go wrong “, we learn from this and make the necessary changes and improvements”.

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that Mr Bhatti is still employed by the trust, but he is no longer clinical lead for the breast service.

Dr Shafie Kammaruddin, acting medical director at CDDFT, has said that the NHS Trust will “support the police with any information they require”.

Dr Kammaruddin added: “Mr Bhatti is currently restricted from any clinical duties.

The University of North Durham Hospital (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“This means that he is not seeing patients or providing any clinical care or treatment.

“We recognise the concerns being raised and understand the importance of transparency.

“We are taking the concerns seriously, and are following the appropriate processes.

“As part of the Trust’s ongoing review into the breast surgery service, there is an active investigation underway.

“While this process is ongoing, we are not able to share further details. 

Darlington Memorial Hospital (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“We will take account of any further information we receive and will support the police with any information they require.”

In a follow-up statement, the trust confirmed that Mr Bhatti remained on full pay.

A spokesperson for CDDFT said: “In line with trust policies and contractual terms and conditions of employment, where an employee is restricted or excluded from duties while formal processes are underway, they continue to receive full pay.

“While we are committed to being as open and transparent as possible, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual employment matters.”

Mr Bhatti also operated on patients at the private practice, Washington Spire Hospital.

Spire Hospital in Washington (Image: Stuart Boulton)

However, Spire has confirmed that the doctor isn’t currently practising clinically at Spire Washington, and they are not currently conducting a recall into his patients.

However, Spire has confirmed that the doctor isn’t currently practising clinically at Spire Washington, and they are not currently conducting a recall into his patients.

The review follows a critical report by the Royal College of Surgeons in March 2025, which raised serious concerns about the service and prompted a full redesign.

The report found a decade of missed warnings, ignored red flags, and ‘systemic failures’.

The review, commissioned by the trust and carried out by governance expert Mary Aubrey, concluded that “the governance arrangements within the breast surgery service were inadequate, inconsistent, and failed to ensure patient safety”.

A new report presented to the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) board on Wednesday (March 25) outlined significant improvements to the service, alongside the latest findings from its ongoing “look-back” review into patient care.

So far, 578 cases have been identified, with 357 reviewed. Of those, 45 involved moderate harm and nine involved more serious harm, including one death.

The review focuses on cases from 2023 to early 2025, but discussions are ongoing about widening its scope, with input from legal advisers, patient groups, regulators and other NHS trusts.

Around 1,500 cases are now under review in total, with more than 1,000 still outstanding, and additional independent clinical reviewers are being recruited to speed up the process.