A comprehensive review of breast cancer cases at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) in the UK has uncovered alarming instances of subpar treatment, including 20 unnecessary mastectomies. The trust, which has been under investigation, has reviewed 539 cases, resulting in 59 instances of moderate harm, 19 of severe harm, and one patient death. Furthermore, 242 cases led to minor harm. The review, which examined cases from January 2023 to February 2025, aims to identify patients who may have experienced harm and provide them with necessary support.
The review's findings indicate that 38 cases involved treatment not aligned with best practices, including failure to offer immediate breast reconstruction, unnecessary "benign" surgery, and outdated practices that resulted in harm. In 32 cases, patients underwent excessive surgery, such as mastectomy. The trust has confirmed that 20 of these cases involved unnecessary mastectomies. These findings have significant implications for the trust and its patients, highlighting a need for improved care and accountability.
Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old woman from Consett, County Durham, is one of the patients affected by the trust's subpar treatment. She was diagnosed with stage one cancer in her left breast in February 2023 and underwent a lumpectomy, lymph node removal, and eventually, a mastectomy. However, in September 2023, she was informed that the mastectomy was unnecessary. Howarth has expressed her shock and disappointment, stating that the experience has had a life-changing impact on her, affecting her confidence and self-perception.
The trust's chief executive, Steve Russell, has apologized to the women and families harmed by the failings in breast services, acknowledging the profound impact of these events. He emphasized that significant changes have been made to the breast service to improve patient care. The trust is cooperating with Durham Police, who are investigating the events at CDDFT. A consultant, Amir Bhatti, who served as the clinical lead for breast services from 2013 to 2024, has had his clinical practice restricted while an internal trust investigation is carried out.
The review's findings have also highlighted concerns about the trust's financial arrangements, including nearly £6 million paid to breast cancer diagnostic clinics and surgery companies run privately by Bhatti. An external review into the trust's governance raised concerns about the potential risks to clinical standards posed by outsourcing patient appointments. A report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) also identified issues with breast cancer cases not being properly discussed in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
Rachel O'Connor, part of the medical negligence team at Hudgell Solicitors, is calling for a public inquiry into the events at CDDFT. She emphasized that breast cancer services should provide patients with exceptional care and support, but the trust's failures have led to women suffering serious harm. The trust's board will meet to discuss the review's findings and decide whether to extend the review to thousands more cases dating back to 2015.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has been informed about the investigation, and the trust's board will consider the future scope and timeframe of the look-back review at a meeting on September 24. The review's findings and the trust's response will likely have significant implications for the UK's healthcare system, highlighting the need for improved accountability and patient care.
Key points
- 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust.
- The review found 59 instances of moderate harm, 19 of severe harm, and one patient death.
- The trust's board will meet to decide whether to extend the review to thousands more cases dating back to 2015.
