NHS trust admits 20 women had breasts removed unnecessarily
County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust reveals hundreds harmed by failures in breast cancer unit; criminal investigation underway.
What to know
- County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust has admitted that at least 20 women had unnecessary mastectomies; of 514 cases reviewed, 315 patients suffered harm overall, with 77 significantly harmed and one death reported.
- Failures include not only unnecessary breast removals but also missed or delayed cancer diagnoses that allowed some cancers to spread.
- The National Crime Agency is investigating whether criminal offences occurred; a decision is imminent on extending the review to cover cases back to 2015, potentially affecting 10,000 records.
- Affected patients and families describe shock, psychological trauma, and physical pain; many have called for a public inquiry.
“She now says she feels 'mutilated' by what happened to her, and feels the mistakes made by the trust were 'absolutely unforgivable'.”
Jo, Former NHS worker and patient · BBC ↗
Steve Russell Chief Executive, County Durham and Darlington Foundation TrustDenise Howarth Patient who underwent unnecessary mastectomyJo Former NHS worker and patientCounty Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust NHS trust under investigationNational Crime Agency Criminal investigation authority
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Decision imminent on expanding review scope to 2015 — The BBC understands a decision is imminent on whether to extend the scope of the internal review to look at cases dating back to 2015, which could mean reopening up to 10,000 medical records.
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National Crime Agency and Durham Police launch criminal investigation — The National Crime Agency announces it is working with Durham Police to investigate allegations by former patients and determine if any criminal offences have taken place.
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NHS trust admits 20 unnecessary mastectomies to BBC
County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust formally admits to the BBC that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies. Of 514 cases reviewed, 315 patients suffered harm including 77 significantly harmed; one patient died. Cases also identified where cancer diagnoses were missed or delayed.
“There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am. What happened was utterly unacceptable.”
— Steve Russell -
first by The Telegraph, 5d ago · also Guardian, Evening Standard, BBC Health, BBC
5 more headlines
- Twenty women had breasts removed unnecessarily during NHS cancer care The Guardian · 5d ago
- 20 women unnecessarily had breasts removed and others suffered serious harm Evening Standard · 5d ago
- Twenty women had breasts removed needlessly, says NHS trust BBC Health · 5d ago
- Women told breasts removed needlessly as NHS trust finds more than 300 suffered harm BBC · 5d ago
- Twenty women had breasts removed unnecessarily, NHS trust admits Mastodon · 5d ago
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first by Evening Standard, 6d ago · also BBC, Sky News
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Its difficult to know how to categorise mistaken mastectomies in Durham; are they tragic mistakes, malpractice, or assaults on women? And then we might wonder: is this limited to the County Durham & Darlington NHS Trust, or will it soon become clear that the institutional practices (which are common across the NHS) in breast cancer care *actually*…
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I know a couple guys that had testicles removed as a precaution because of potential cancer. They don't fuck around
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# BBC # News Twenty women had breasts removed unnecessarily, NHS trust admits
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Patient notified of unnecessary mastectomy — Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old patient from Consett, receives a call from the NHS in September 2025 informing her that her mastectomy in 2023 could have been avoided. The trust acknowledges a second lumpectomy rather than full breast removal could have been offered but was never discussed with her.
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Breast unit begins period of documented failures — Treatment at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust's breast unit begins the period (January 2023 to February 2025) during which hundreds of patients would come to harm, including unnecessary mastectomies and missed or delayed diagnoses.