Hospital leaders at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust have committed to examining up to 4,500 additional breast cancer cases following the discovery of significant clinical failings, including delayed diagnoses and operations that were not medically necessary.
Hundreds of patients experienced harm under the trust's care, according to a comprehensive review of cases spanning from 2023 onwards. The trust's board has now agreed to expand this examination to include cases dating back to 2015, when concerns were first documented.
Women affected by these failings have described their experiences as deeply traumatic. One patient told investigators she felt "mutilated" by the outcomes and described the trust's errors as "absolutely unforgivable".
At an extraordinary board meeting held in Durham, board chair Alison Marshall delivered a formal apology to all affected patients and their families.
"I would like to offer a sincere apology to all the women and their families who have been affected by the failings in our breast services. I can't imagine the impact that has had."Marshall acknowledged that while the trust could not reverse past decisions, it would operate with "open, honest and transparent" communication about what went wrong.
How did these failings develop?
Chief nurse Gill Hunt explained to the board that problems originated in 2015 following a service restructuring and the elimination of breast surgical trainee positions. Over subsequent years, multiple organisations—including the Northern Cancer Alliance, the Care Quality Commission, and NHS England—raised repeated concerns about the service's performance.
The primary issues identified centred on clinical practice that deviated from established guidelines, an unusually high rate of surgical interventions, and patients experiencing unacceptable delays in receiving diagnoses.
What do the current figures show?
According to local health reporting, of 539 cases examined by 2 September 2026, the harm assessments revealed 242 instances of minor harm, 59 classified as moderate harm, and 19 as severe harm. One patient died. The trust has also confirmed that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies.
The trust stated it has been reviewing cases from January 2023 through February 2025, alongside 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated support helpline. Around 1,500 patient records remained under active review in mid-September.
What happens next?
A public board meeting scheduled for 24 September 2026 will determine whether the review scope expands to encompass as many as 10,000 patient records dating back to 2015. If approved, this would substantially increase the number of cases examined beyond the current audit parameters.
Separately, Durham Police continue investigating whether criminal offences may have occurred in connection with the failings.
Key Facts
- The trust is reviewing cases from 2023 onwards, with a potential expansion to 2015 pending a board decision on 24 September 2026
- Of 539 cases assessed by early September 2026, 19 were classified as severe harm and one patient died
- Twenty women have been identified as having undergone unnecessary mastectomies
- Police are investigating potential criminal conduct related to the clinical failures
- Multiple national bodies including NHS England and the Care Quality Commission had raised concerns about the service over several years
