NHS Trust found to have given around 20 women unnecessary mastectomies

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The County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust is reviewing breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside those of 640 former patients who contacted a helpline.

Of 539 cases reviewed up to September 2, some 59 have resulted in moderate harm, 19 in severe harm, and one patient has died.

A further 242 cases resulted in “minor harm,” according to a grading process.

Information from the trust board shows 38 cases involved treatment not aligned to best practice, including not offering women immediate breast reconstruction and unnecessary “benign” surgery.

Some 32 cases involved “excessive surgery, such as mastectomy.”

The trust said the number of unnecessary mastectomies within this is 20.

Overall, 20 cases involved delayed diagnosis, which can lead to the disease spreading.

The review also highlighted a “clear financial incentive” for a private company run by a breast surgeon who performed mastectomies to see more patients.

Cathedral Surgical Services Limited had an arrangement with the trust based on “individual payments per patient.”

Concerns were also raised about how the “dual role” of its directors may be “influenced by personal interests rather than solely by patient or trust priorities.”

Catriona Dunbar was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023.

The 41-year-old, who is represented by Hudgell Solicitors, said the trust’s apology letter included no accountability.

“It says things shouldn’t have happened, but there are no admissions as to why, or as to who was at fault, so in some ways it’s made me angrier, because accountability is what we need here,” she said.

“Nobody is doing the right thing and taking ownership for what has happened to so many women.”

Rachel O’Connor, of the medical negligence team at Hudgell Solicitors, is calling for a public inquiry, citing “deep-rooted, systematic failures.”

Sally Kum, of Breast Cancer Now, said anyone accessing services “has the right to expect high-quality, compassionate care and ongoing support.”

“While nothing will take away from what’s happened, the trust owes it all those affected to listen, learn and drive lasting improvements so no-one goes through similar experiences ever again,” she said.

Trust chief executive Steve Russell apologised to the women and families, adding that “significant changes” have since been made to the breast service.

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