A HEALTH trust executive has apologised over the controversial move of breast cancer services.

As reported in The Northern Echo last week, breast cancer clinics in the Darlington area were recently switched to Bishop Auckland without advance publicity.

While the patients directly affected were notified, Darlington’s council, MP and Healthwatch group were left in the dark about the decision, which has seen many cancer patients having to travel further for treatment.

Today, Tom Hunt, executive commercial director of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, apologised for the way the trust handled communication of the change and said criticism was well deserved.

Speaking at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s health and partnerships scrutiny committee, he said: “The organisation recognises that we did not manage this well and communication has been very poor.

“It shouldn’t have happened, we did have some dialogue with the CCGs but we didn’t contact Healthwatch or the local MP which was a terrible mistake

“In hindsight, what we should have done is develop a checklist of people we should have engaged with.”

He added: “I can only apologise. The organisation has let itself down around communication on this issue and has learned from it.

“We deserve the criticism as it hasn’t been good practice. The only defence we can offer is that we’re not used to this as it has not been common practice – historically, there has been a tendency to just soldier on.”

Councillor Wendy Newall said: ““Today is the first time we’ve been formally told about this and it’s five weeks on from the last clinic held in Darlington.

“This committee should have been told as we are representatives of the residents of Darlington and in particular, of those with health care issues. It is very disappointing.”

Mr Hunt said the decision to temporarily move the clinics to Bishop Auckland was made pragmatically, due to the hospital having better equipment and capacity than Darlington Memorial Hospital.

In response to suggestions it would have been better to move the equipment to Darlington where there is more demand, Mr Hunt said: “The decision was made on a pragmatic basis but what has to be taken into account is what it means in terms of travel disruption and inconvenience to people.”

A full review of breast cancer services in the area will begin in July.