The County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) has acknowledged significant issues with care provided at their breast unit. CDDFT’s chief executive has apologised “unreservedly” for the harm the trust caused to hundreds of patients at their breast unit, accepting that “What happened was utterly unacceptable”. They have admitted that 20 of those involved patients undergoing avoidable mastectomies, as well as there being issues with delayed diagnosis and lack of compassionate care.

After informal feedback from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) of England raising concerns about the unit following a review in January 2025, the Trust commissioned an independent investigation into breast care at the Trust. The RCS report, as published in April 2025, identified that breast cancer cases were not being properly discussed in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings. MDTs are intended to ensure treatment plans are scrutinised by a range of specialists before major decisions—such as mastectomy—are made.

The RCS said there was little evidence the trust’s breast unit was contributing to MDT discussions, and that decisions were being made on the unchallenged view of individual surgeons. The report also pointed to outdated practices that did not align with best-practice guidance, including high rates of repeat procedures (“re-excision”), low levels of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and operations that may have been carried out too quickly.

The report raised numerous further criticisms of the Trust, including:

• Outdated clinical practices that did not meet guidance on best practice, and led to delayed diagnosis and cancers being missed
• A high rate of “re-excision” (repeated procedures) and low uptake of breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy
• Operations that may have been carried out “too quickly”

The Trust’s independent investigation was carried out by Mary Aubrey, who is a governance specialist, and was published in November 2025. It noted a pattern of concerns being raised since 2012 which were not appropriate acted upon.

The BBC also carried out investigation into the unit in 2025, in which they found that more than 200 patients had come to harm with 43 of these cases involving significant harm. A leading expert said that what went on at the trust was “a textbook example of how not to carry out breast cancer management”.

Affected women told the BBC that they were left feeling “butchered” by surgery. Some said they were stunned to learn that full breast removal could have been avoided, and many spoke of lasting physical and psychological effects.

The BBC are releasing a documentary, “Breast Cancer Scandal: Exposing The Harm”, on Friday 18 October 2026 if you would like to find out more information regarding the findings.

Further to the investigations, the CDDFT are now carrying out an internal investigation of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, as well as reviewing the cases of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline about concerns. There is question over the scope of the review, considering whether they need to investigate cases dating back to 2015, which would drastically increase the number of patients being reviewed.

There have been 514 cases reviewed by the Trust to date, from which it has been found that 315 patients to have suffered harm, 77 of which were significantly harmed, and it is known that one patient has died. The investigation has also found that some patients have experienced missed or delayed diagnoses of cancer, therefore leading to a spread of the cancer.

The trust is working urgently with NHS England, the Care Quality Commission and independent experts to address what happened and ensure future patients receive safe care. This action is welcomed, as is the Trust’s candour regarding their failings and their acceptance of the need for wide-ranging care to provide a better service to patients.

What it does not change however is the fact that patients have been badly let down over many years and that they have suffered avoidable, and often life-changing, injuries as a result. Here at Williamsons Solicitors, we have substantial experience in acting for patients who have experienced misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses and incorrect procedures relating to breast cancer. If you or a loved one has experienced a similar circumstance, please contact our Compensation Team on 01482 323 697 to discuss how we can help you. Whilst we appreciate that such investigations cannot change what has happened, we recognise the value in obtaining answers and justice for those who have undergone incorrect treatment and we are here to support you every step of the way.