Echo Comment on the extending of the Durham breast cancer scandal

There is an argument that it should go back a decade further.

However, it cannot be acceptable that some of the 4,500 patients whose cases are to be looked at will not know until 2031 – five long years away – the outcome of the review.

This must be making these unfortunate women extremely anxious, particularly when they see that of 528 cases reviewed so far back to 2023, 321 patients have suffered some harm.

Our local trust, which already has nine reviewers looking at about 80 cases a month, does not have the resources to go any faster.

But last month, when Cleveland Police was struggling in the aftermath of the A66 crash, it was able to call in extra resources from across the country.

Surely this immense scandal should trigger a similar response from the National Health Service so women’s immense anxiety can be eased before the next decade.

This should be seen as a national scandal, not just a little local difficulty, with a national inquiry because this could have profound implications for the way the whole NHS interacts with private clinics.

This could also have profound implications on our local NHS funding.

Already, the trust has spent £523,000 reviewing cases.

If this drags on another five years, the bill is going to be over £3m.

Add to that the £600,000 in legal fees, which could yet rise to £1.19m, over the very avoidable changing rooms debacle, then Durham and Darlington are going to be feeling the pinch for years to come.