County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) disclosed that twenty women underwent mastectomies that were not medically necessary while receiving cancer care. The disclosure followed a BBC investigation that identified more than 200 patients who experienced harm during treatment at the trust’s breast unit. Authorities including the National Crime Agency and Durham police are reportedly examining whether criminal offences occurred based on allegations from former patients.
Steve Russell, the trust’s chief executive, acknowledged the failures in a statement to the BBC. He indicated that the trust should have responded more promptly to concerns and listened more carefully to patients. The CDDFT has undertaken a look-back review examining breast cancer cases treated between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside 640 cases from former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline. Of 514 cases reviewed to date, 315 patients were identified as having experienced harm, with 77 experiencing significant harm. One death has been documented.
Several patients have shared their experiences publicly. One patient identified as Jo described how she underwent a mastectomy despite having only small cancer in a large breast that did not require the procedure. Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old mother of two, received a mastectomy in February 2023 following a stage one breast cancer diagnosis, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. In September of last year, the trust informed her the mastectomy had been unnecessary. Russell noted that in certain cases, cancer was missed entirely and subsequently advanced.
Rachel O’Connor from Hudgell Solicitors, representing affected women, has called for a public inquiry into the trust’s practices. She emphasized that breast cancer services should provide exceptional care and noted that systematic failures have persisted for years at the trust. The trust’s board is scheduled to convene publicly on September 24 to discuss the scope and timeline of the ongoing review process.
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