A CLUTCH of Dolly Partons is descending on Darlington this week to raise awareness of breast cancer clinics being moved from the town’s Memorial Hospital.

The Dolly Parton flashmob, planned for 2pm on Thursday at Joseph Pease Place, has been organised by campaigners angry that the moving of the clinics to Bishop Auckland happened without advance warning to patients and key officials.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman described the move as “outrageous”, particularly because interested parties including GPs and the council’s health and scrutiny committee were not told about it.

She has tweeted her support for the flashmob and is raising the issue of breast cancer care in Darlington with managers at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

A Trust spokesman has said that the changes were temporary due to shortages in key staff and a full review of breast services is taking place this month with the full involvement of stakeholders.