NHS trust to review 4,500 more breast cancer cases after failings found

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to widen its investigation into breast cancer care failings, extending the review to up to 4,500 additional cases dating back to 2015. The decision follows findings that hundreds of patients were harmed, including through delayed diagnoses and unnecessary surgical procedures.

The BBC has spoken with several women affected by these failings, including one who described feeling "mutilated" and called the trust's errors "absolutely unforgivable."

Leadership apology

At an extraordinary board meeting held in Durham, board chair Alison Marshall offered a "sincere" apology to all women and families affected by failings in the trust's breast services. She acknowledged the trust could not undo the harm already done, but pledged to remain open, honest and transparent going forward.

Chief nurse Gill Hunt told the board that concerns were first raised as early as 2015, following a reconfiguration of services and the loss of breast surgical trainee positions. In the years since, multiple issues were flagged repeatedly by patients as well as oversight bodies including the Northern Cancer Alliance, the Care Quality Commission, and NHS England.

Key problems identified included treatment that did not align with best practice, excessive surgery, and delayed diagnoses.

Findings so far

The trust's breast surgery lookback review began in April 2025, initially examining cases from January 2023 through February 2025. So far, 538 cases have been reviewed, with 321 patients found to have experienced some form of harm, including one death.