NHS Trust Admits 20 Unnecessary Mastectomies, Hundreds Harmed

A North-East England NHS trust has admitted that twenty women underwent unnecessary mastectomies during breast cancer treatment, while hundreds of other patients suffered harm. The County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) has issued an unreserved apology through its new chief executive, Steve Russell, who described the situation as "utterly unacceptable."

This alarming admission follows BBC reports last year that highlighted serious failures within the trust's breast unit. These failures included an unusually high number of mastectomies compared to other NHS trusts, operations performed too quickly, and the controversial outsourcing of some treatment to private clinics run by the trust's own breast cancer clinical lead, a setup identified by independent experts as a "clear conflict of interest."

Patients affected by these failings have spoken of the immense shock, psychological trauma, and physical pain they continue to endure after being told their mastectomies could have been avoided. Many are now coming together, not only for mutual support but also to demand a public inquiry into the matter.

CDDFT is currently conducting an internal review of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025.

Additionally, they are looking into cases from 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline.

So far, of 514 cases reviewed, 315 patients have been found to have suffered harm, with 77 experiencing significant harm.

Tragically, one patient is known to have died.

Further compounding the issue, cases have also emerged where cancer diagnoses were either missed or significantly delayed, leading to the spread of the disease in some patients. CEO Steve Russell indicated that the trust will soon decide whether to broaden the scope of its review to include up to 10,000 cases dating back to 2015, a decision that will involve balancing advice from patient groups, clinical experts, and legal representatives.

The seriousness of the situation has escalated, with the National Crime Agency now working alongside Durham Police to investigate allegations made by former patients to determine if any criminal offences have occurred. Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old from Consett, County Durham, shared her harrowing experience, revealing she received unnecessary chemotherapy and radiotherapy alongside her mastectomy for a slow-growing cancer, when a second lumpectomy could have been an option.

Her story is one among many that underscore the profound impact of these systemic failures on individual lives.

#NHSSkandal #PatientSafety #BreastCancerAwareness #CountyDurhamScandal