Hospital chiefs have confirmed that 321 patients suffered some form of harm and that 32 cases involved excessive surgery, including 20 unnecessary mastectomies, in a breast cancer care controversy that has forced County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to consider a sweeping review of up to 4,500 cases dating back to 2015.
The trust's 'lookback' review, launched in April 2025 after serious concerns were raised about breast cancer care, initially covered cases from January 2023 to February 2025.