County Durham MP questions Amir Ahmed Bhatti High Court case

Mark Kelly Foy, the MP for the City of Durham, said that the decision of Amir Ahmed Bhatti to take appeal his ban from clinical practice to the High Court, “leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many”.

Earlier this year, Mr Bhatti, the former clinical lead for breast services at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), asked the High Court to overturn restrictions preventing him from treating patients.

Mary Kelly Foy, City of Durham MP (Image: MARY KELLY FOY MP)

But in a judgment handed down on May 11, Deputy High Court Judge Elizabeth O’Neill ruled the trust was entitled to keep the restrictions in place because of ongoing “serious safety concerns”.

Ms Foy said: “Every single woman and family member of anyone impacted by last year’s breast surgery services scandal within County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust will be pleased to read this news. I’m sure those that I have met will be.

Mr Amir Ahmed Bhatti (Image: SUPPLIED)

“However, I know the fact that this person is still paid while they’re suspended during the investigation leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many, and the audacity he has shown to challenge the trust’s decision to suspend him from practising speaks volumes.

“I am pleased the High Court agreed with the trust’s decisions, which it said were ‘based on patient safety concerns and ongoing investigations’.

“As the trust attempts to rebuild patient confidence following the failings, I think the new senior leadership should be applauded for showing their clear intention to focus on the importance of patient safety.”

The High Court case forms part of the fallout from a major investigation into the trust’s breast surgery service, launched after external reviews uncovered cases involving “missed cancers, unnecessary procedures and concerns about outdated clinical practices,” in what the report called “decade-long systemic failures”.

A County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust sign (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Mr Bhatti, who has worked for the trust since 2005, was first restricted from carrying out breast cancer surgery in February 2025 following concerns raised during the breast service investigation.

However, the restrictions were widened in October 2025, preventing him from undertaking any clinical practice, including general surgery, outpatient work and multidisciplinary meetings.

In court, Nicola Newbegin and Annie Davis, representing Mr Bhatti, argued the trust had acted “irrationally” and “failed to properly follow NHS disciplinary procedures”.

They also argued there was no justification for preventing him from carrying out general surgery when the concerns related to breast services.

In refusing the application, Judge O’Neill said the trust was entitled to take a precautionary approach while investigations remained ongoing.

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

The judge concluded there was “no serious issue to be tried” in relation to the trust’s decision to maintain the restrictions and ruled that “the application is refused”.

Mr Bhatti was ordered to pay the trust’s legal costs, assessed at £47,000.

He remains employed by the trust on full pay while the wider investigation continues.

Responding to the ruling, CDDFT chief executive Steve Russell said: “We note the outcome of the recent High Court proceedings relating to breast surgeon Mr Amir Bhatti, which found in the Trust’s favour.

“The restrictions were introduced by the Trust on patient safety grounds while investigations and patient reviews continue. We continue to believe this was the right action in light of the patient experiences we have heard and continue to hear through the review process.”

Mr Russell added the trust recognised the case may cause “further distress for affected patients and families” and said it remained “deeply sorry for the worry and upset caused”.

He said “significant changes” had been made within breast services over the past year and that improvements were “now leading to better outcomes for patients”.

Mr Bhatti hasn’t made a statement about the most recent development surrounding the court case, but a spokesperson for the consultant 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”.