Twenty women have undergone unnecessary mastectomies at an NHS trust, while others suffered “excessive surgery” and were harmed.
A review of cases has found hundreds of patients have come to harm during treatment in the breast unit at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
The trust, which has been the subject of a BBC investigation into its care, said it was currently reviewing breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside those of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline.
Of 539 cases reviewed as of September 2, some 59 have resulted in moderate harm, 19 in severe harm and one patient has died.
A further 242 cases have resulted in “minor harm”, according to a grading process.
Information from the trust board, seen by the Press Association, shows that, overall, 38 cases have involved treatment not aligned to best practice (including not offering women immediate breast reconstruction, unnecessary “benign” surgery and “outdated practice that has resulted in harm, e.g. fine needle aspirate”).
Some 32 cases have involved “excessive surgery, such as mastectomy”. The trust told PA the number of unnecessary mastectomies within this is 20.
Overall, some 20 cases have involved delayed diagnosis, which can lead to the disease spreading.
A board meeting of the trust next week will decide whether the review should be extended to review thousands more cases dating back to 2015.
Denise Howarth, 51, of Consett, County Durham, was diagnosed with stage one cancer in her left breast in February 2023.
She had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, but at a follow-up review was told she still needed a mastectomy.
Ms Howarth, a mother-of-two being represented by Hudgell Solicitors, underwent the mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiology treatment.
In September last year, she was contacted by CDDFT and told the mastectomy had not been needed.
“They called me at home to say I needn’t have had my breast removed and it was something which really knocked me off my feet, I was completely shocked,” she said.
“I’d had an awful year already as I’d lost two close relatives and my dad was really poorly so I’d never really had much time after my mastectomy to think of myself and my recovery.
“I’d just reached a point where I was beginning to focus on myself and to look forward, and then this news came like a bolt out of the blue.
“You put your trust in professional people. To be so badly let down is something I’ll never be able to come to terms with.”
Of the trust’s response, Ms Howarth said: “An apology is not enough. This is life-changing.
“I’ve lost so much confidence. I feel robbed of the person I was before. As a woman, losing a breast has a huge impact on you.
“I fear I will never be the same person again, although I have tried to be strong.
“Friends are very kind, they praise me and tell me I look great and say how strong I am, but the reality is it’s a huge struggle. I’ve broken down many times.
“I find it difficult to choose clothing I feel comfortable and happy in, and it worsens at this time of year as I can’t really wear the summer tops with straps, I always need to wear a T-shirt.”
Steve Russell, who was appointed CDDFT chief executive last year, said in a statement: “We are deeply sorry to the women and families who have been harmed and let down by failings in our breast services.
“We recognise the profound impact this has had and have been clear that there were opportunities when, as a trust, we should have listened more carefully and acted sooner.
“Significant changes have since been made to the breast service and are bringing improvements for patients.
“Alongside this, the look-back continues to review past care, identify patients who may have experienced harm and make sure they receive appropriate information and support.
“On September 24, our trust board will meet in public to consider the future scope and timeframe of the look-back. No final decision has been made and it would not be right to pre-empt the board’s discussion.
“We will continue to be open about this work and will provide a further update following the meeting.
“Our dedicated support line remains available to anyone with concerns about their breast care on 0191 333 2126 or at [email protected].”
The trust has confirmed to PA that a consultant, Amir Bhatti, was CDDFT’s clinical lead for breast services from 2013 to 2024.
His clinical practice is currently restricted while an internal trust investigation is carried out, a spokeswoman for the trust said.
She added that the trust has also been co-operating with Durham Police who are looking into what happened at CDDFT.
Last year, the BBC reported that nearly £6 million had been paid by the trust over six years to breast cancer diagnostic clinics and surgery companies run privately by Mr Bhatti.
Concern about this arrangement was raised in a 2025 external review into the running of the trust, carried out by governance specialist Mary Aubrey.
She said outsourcing patient appointments had created financial incentives which were potentially “a risk to clinical standards”.
A report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) last year, published by the trust, also said breast cancer cases had not been discussed properly in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs).
Rachel O’Connor, part of the medical negligence team at Hudgell Solicitors, is calling for a public inquiry.
She said: “We are currently advising a number of women who have had surgeries they have since been told were not needed.
“Breast cancer services at hospitals should be places where patients have the reassurance of exceptional care and support, from clinics and scans to surgeries and treatments.
“Sadly, at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, this has not been the case for many years, as deep-rooted, systematic failures have led to women suffering serious harm.”
Trust board papers, seen by PA, highlight how the Royal College of Surgeons review highlighted “outdated practices within the breast surgery service with the potential to cause physical and/or psychological harm to patients”.
It pointed to “evidence of excessive or unnecessary surgery in some cases, and of instances in which patients were not offered all of the options available to them including neo-adjuvant therapy and breast reconstruction.”
The board said there was also “significant weaknesses in MDT arrangements, including a lack of peer review and challenge to support consensus decision-making”.
Catriona Dunbar, 41, of Stanley, County Durham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023 and has been interviewed by police about her experiences at the trust.
In a letter to her, the trust’s deputy chief executive, Kelly Angus, has apologised for the “significant distress and upset” caused to her during her treatment.
She said the care provided “fell significantly short of the standards expected” and included a lack of informed consent regarding her surgery, providing her with insufficient dressings following surgery, and taking three months to confirm the results of tests to check whether the cancer had returned.
Ms Dunbar, who is represented by Hudgell Solicitors, said: “The letter is full of apologies but there is 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.
“Nobody is doing the right thing and taking ownership for what has happened to so many women.”
In a statement to the BBC, Mr Bhatti said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to respond, but I remain committed to the ongoing trust investigation, and it would be inappropriate for me to discuss this whilst proceedings are ongoing.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) told PA its major crime investigative support unit is assisting Durham Police.
