County Durham NHS Trust investigation reveals unnecessary mastectomies

A review of the breast unit at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) has revealed that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies. The investigation, which has been ongoing since early 2025, has identified significant failures in care, including delayed or missed cancer diagnoses that allowed the disease to spread.

Of the hundreds of cases reviewed, hundreds of patients have reportedly suffered harm. Data indicates that 315 patients experienced harm, including 77 who were significantly harmed, and one death has been recorded. The trust board is currently reviewing cases from January 2023 to February 2025, alongside inquiries from 640 former patients.

Trust chief executive Steve Russell has issued an “unreserved” apology, describing the situation as “utterly unacceptable.” The National Crime Agency and Durham Police are now investigating the matter to determine if any criminal offences occurred. A decision is expected shortly regarding whether to expand the review to include medical records dating back to 2015, a move that could involve up to 10,000 cases.