County Durham NHS Trust to review 4,500 breast cancer cases after unnecessary surgeries

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is launching an extensive review of up to 4,500 breast cancer cases following a scandal involving unnecessary surgeries and patient harm. A preliminary review of 538 cases conducted through September 2026 revealed that 321 patients suffered harm, including one death and 78 cases of severe or moderate injury.

Investigations identified 20 instances of unnecessary mastectomies and 32 cases of excessive surgery. Additionally, officials noted 20 cases involving delayed cancer diagnoses. The trust reported that some treatments did not align with best practices, citing issues such as outdated approaches and a failure to offer immediate breast reconstruction.

Concerns regarding the quality of breast services were reportedly first raised in 2015 following a service reconfiguration. The trust now plans to expand its lookback review year-by-year, potentially reaching back to 2015. If the full scope is completed, the process could take five years, with some records not being examined until 2031.