Twenty women had their breasts removed unnecessarily while receiving cancer treatment at an NHS trust in north-east England. The County Durham and Darlington foundation trust (CDDFT) stated that these women were among hundreds of patients who experienced harm at its breast unit.
Steve Russell, CDDFT chief executive, expressed deep regret for the harm caused by failings in their breast services. He acknowledged that the trust should have listened and acted sooner, and noted that significant changes have since been made to the service.
The trust is conducting a review of breast cancer cases from January 2023 to February 2025, and has also reviewed cases of 640 former patients who contacted a helpline. Of 514 cases reviewed so far, 315 patients were found to have suffered harm, with 77 experiencing significant harm. One patient is known to have died.
The CDDFT board is scheduled to meet publicly on September 24 to consider the future scope and timeframe of the ongoing review into past care. A dedicated support line is available for those with concerns about their breast care.