Sue Jacques was chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust for more than ten years including when an investigation exposed systemic failures in the service, missed or delayed diagnoses, at least 20 needless mastectomies and hundreds of patients harmed.

She was awarded an OBE in January 2025 for services to the NHS, but the Echo is today calling for her honour to be removed after it emerged that red flags about the scandal date back to 2015.

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy says she “cannot comprehend” how an OBE can remain “when unscrupulous activity within breast surgery services was potentially at its height”.

Meanwhile, patients have backed the calls for the ex-chief to lose the honour, saying it was a “disgrace” she was ever given it.

Jacques was in charge when a recent review found that repeated warnings about patient care had been ignored.

Concerns had been raised for more than a decade before the scandal sparked a major investigation in 2024. Yet she was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours in January 2025.

The failures mainly occurred at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

An independent review looked at 1,472 breast surgery cases between January 2023 and February 2025. Authorities are considering extending the review back to 2015, potentially reopening up to 10,000 medical records.

Sue Jacques, former chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust (Image: NHS TRUST)

Durham Police and the National Crime Agency are conducting a joint criminal investigation into whether offences were committed in the treatment of patients.

Affected patients and medical negligence specialists are calling for a full public inquiry into the trust’s “deep-rooted, systematic failures”.

A post from the Trust, congratulating Jacques on her OBE (Image: FACEBOOK)

In comments still on the trust’s website and social media page, she said there was “much to be proud of”, while the trust urged people to join “in congratulating her”

Ms Jacques said at the time she was “deeply honoured and truly humbled to be awarded an OBE.”

Sue Jacques, former chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said she would write to Prime Minister Andy Burnham about the honour and urge him to speak to King Charles.

Ms Foy said: “I cannot comprehend how an OBE for services to the NHS could remain with the individual who was leading County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) when unscrupulous activity within breast surgery services was potentially at its height.

“The King’s honours are intended to recognise achievement and service.”

Left: Sue Jacques. Right: A County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust sign (Image: SUBMIT/NORTHERN ECHO)

Her concerns also extend to “so many constituents who have raised distressing experiences that either they or their loved ones have suffered at UHND over recent years.”

City of Durham MP, Mary Kelly Foy (Image: PARLIAMENT)

The Durham MP cited deaths, unnecessary surgery, severe mental trauma, and hospital departments still rated as requiring improvement.

Ms Foy added: “The A&E extension will not go ahead as planned, despite being a project the former chief executive personally highlighted to me.

“That raises serious questions about what was happening behind closed doors at senior level within CDDFT and how UHND was being managed.”

Darlington Memorial Hospital (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“The failings in patient safety and finances are being laid bare for all to see.

“To preserve the integrity of the honours system, we must pursue the forfeiture process for this honour.”

Patients whose cases are being investigated have also criticised Jacques’ honour and called for her OBE to be removed.

Amelia Green, 42, from Stanley, County Durham, lost her sister Michaela to breast cancer in 2009 then found a lump in her own breast a decade later.

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

She said: “It’s a disgrace that she still has her OBE. She’s the person that I link this all to; she was the chief executive at the time. It seems like she led with her eyes closed, given all that has been revealed since all the reports and investigations have been done.”

Alison Deighton, 69, from Durham, was told in 2009 that she did not have cancer. Months later, she was given the devastating news that she had Paget’s disease of the breast, a rare form of breast cancer, and alleged she had been “mistreated” by the trust.

“I’m astounded that she has managed to hold onto the OBE after all that has come out about the number of women who have been harmed,” said Alison.

The Cabinet Office, which has responsibility for honours, said: “We don’t comment on individuals”.

University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City. (Image: Chris Booth)

On the forfeiture of the awards section of the Cabinet Office website, it states: “An honour can be withdrawn (or ‘forfeited’) for a variety of reasons, including criminal conviction and bringing the honours system into disrepute.

“A decision to forfeit an honour can be based on events that pre-date the award or conduct that occurs after the award is made.

“The Forfeiture Committee considers cases put to it when the holder of an honour has brought the honours system into disrepute.”

Concerns about the trust had been raised for more than a decade before the breast surgery scandal emerged, it was reported last week.

The trust has spent more than £500,000 on the review. Board papers released before next week’s meeting say there are “likely more cases of harm” outside the January 2023 to February 2025 period under examination.

Amir Bhatti, former lead of the breast surgery service at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust (Image: SUBMIT)

At least 20 women have been identified as having undergone unnecessary mastectomies.

Of 514 cases reviewed, 315 patients were found to have suffered harm, including 77 who suffered significant harm.

One patient is known to have died.

Concerns about breast surgery at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust were repeatedly raised between 2015 and 2024. Reviews found limited surgical training, high re-excision and mastectomy rates, benign operations and poor patient experience.

Escalating concerns led the Northern Cancer Alliance to launch another external review of breast surgery cases in May 2024.

Durham Police, with help from the National Crime Agency, is investigating whether any offences were committed.

Amir Bhatti, clinical lead for breast services from 2013 to 2024, was restricted from performing breast cancer surgery by the trust in 2025, but he remains employed by the Trust on full pay.

He launched a legal challenge to have these surgical restrictions lifted, but it was denied by the High Court in May.

It has previously been reported that almost £6 million was paid over six years to privately run breast diagnostic clinics and surgery companies connected with Mr Bhatti.