County Durham and Darlington breast cancer review guide

At a glance

• County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has widened its review of breast care following serious concerns about treatment provided to patients.
• Of 539 cases reviewed by 2nd September 2026, 59 involved moderate harm, 19 severe harm and 242 minor harm. One patient had died.
• The review identified 32 cases involving unnecessary or excessive surgery, including 20 unnecessary mastectomies, as well as 20 delayed diagnoses.
• On 24th September 2026, the Trust agreed to extend its look-back into earlier years, starting with patients treated in 2022 and potentially working backwards towards 2015.
• The Trust says it will contact patients directly where their care needs to be reviewed, but anyone worried about previous breast care can contact its dedicated support team.
• You can also request copies of your medical records through a Subject Access Request, which is free.

If you or someone close to you received breast care from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, recent reports about failings within its breast services may be deeply worrying.

On 24th September 2026, the Trust Board agreed to extend its ongoing review into earlier years after hundreds of patients were found to have experienced harm. The review has identified unnecessary mastectomies, excessive surgery and delays in cancer diagnosis.

The Trust has apologised to the women and families affected.

Here, we explain what has happened, what the latest decision means, how to contact the Trust if you are concerned and how you can access your medical records. We also explain when you may want to consider independent legal advice.

What is the County Durham and Darlington NHS breast review?

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is carrying out a retrospective review, or “look-back”, of breast care provided by its breast services.

The Trust began reviewing care provided between January 2023 and February 2025 after concerns were raised about the safety and quality of the service.

By 2nd September 2026, 539 cases had been reviewed. The findings led to renewed calls for the Trust to examine care provided further back in time.

At an extraordinary public Trust Board meeting on 24th September 2026, the Board agreed to extend the look-back into earlier years.

The Trust says it will:

1. Complete the reviews already underway for care provided between January 2023 and February 2025.
2. Then review patients treated during 2022.
3. Consider the findings from each year before deciding whether to move into the previous year.
4. Potentially continue this process backwards towards 2015.

If the review reaches 2015, around 4,500 additional patients could have their care considered.

This is an important distinction. The Trust has not said that every one of those 4,500 cases will automatically be reviewed immediately. Instead, the process will move backwards one year at a time, with further decisions made as each stage is completed.

The Trust says patients whose care needs to be reviewed will be contacted directly.

What failings were identified in the breast care audit?

The clinical audit into breast care at CDDFT revealed widespread systemic and surgical failings that caused varying degrees of harm to hundreds of women. Facing this information can be overwhelming, especially when trying to understand if your care was affected. We understand how difficult this is, and we’re here to support you.

The official audit findings highlighted substantial levels of avoidable harm:

• Severe harm: 19 patients suffered severe harm, including life-altering surgical errors and advanced disease progression.
• Moderate harm: 59 patients experienced moderate clinical harm requiring additional medical intervention or secondary treatment.
• Minor harm: 242 patients experienced minor clinical harm due to sub-standard care or management errors.
• Patient fatality: 1 patient death was directly linked to the clinical failings.

Surgical and diagnostic errors

The review uncovered specific, devastating failures:

• 20 unnecessary mastectomies where patients had healthy breast tissue removed without clinical justification.
• 32 instances of excessive surgery where procedures were far more invasive than necessary.
• 20 delayed cancer diagnoses that allowed malignant conditions to progress untreated.

How to contact the official NHS helpline and get support

If you’re concerned about breast care treatment you received in County Durham, direct support is available. Contacting the trust to discuss your history is free and doesn’t require a solicitor.

Reaching the trust’s helpline

CDDFT has set up dedicated communication channels:

• Direct telephone helpline: Call 0191 333 2126 to speak with the trust’s patient support team.
• Official email contact: Email cddft.breastservices@nhs.net to request a callback or written review of your medical notes.
• What to prepare: Have your NHS number, full name, and approximate treatment dates ready.

Peer and emotional support

Navigating the fallout of a clinical review can be emotionally exhausting. Beyond the official NHS helpline, independent support networks can offer emotional guidance, peer connections, and advocacy:

• The Pink Justice Network: A patient-led support group formed specifically to support women impacted by the County Durham breast cancer scandal.
• Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA): A national patient safety charity providing free, independent advice to individuals affected by medical accidents.
• Breast Cancer Now: Provides free confidential support, specialist nurses, and peer forums for anyone coping with breast cancer treatment or diagnosis concerns.

How to request your medical records and histopathology notes

Accessing your complete medical history allows you to review the exact care you received, seek independent clinical advice, and verify whether your treatment was appropriate. Under UK data protection law, you have the legal right to request these documents free of charge.

1. Contact the Information Governance team: Submit a formal Subject Access Request (SAR) in writing to the CDDFT Information Governance department by email or post.
2. Specify key documentation: Request original MDT meeting notes, histopathology lab results, diagnostic imaging (including mammograms and ultrasounds with original radiologist reports), operation notes, and follow-up correspondence.
3. Maintain a personal log: While awaiting your records (which the trust must provide within one calendar month), create a clear timeline of your treatment with key dates, hospital visits, and clinician names.

What investigations and calls for inquiries are taking place?

The systemic failures within County Durham breast care services have triggered extensive oversight beyond internal hospital reviews.

Ongoing oversight and enquiries include:

• Internal breakdowns: Reports revealed significant breakdowns in multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision-making processes, where clinical safety warnings raised by staff failed to prompt action for over a decade.
• Police enquiries: Durham Police conducted preliminary enquiries into the audit findings to determine whether criminal investigation standards were met.
• Calls for a public inquiry: Patient support groups, legal representatives, and local MPs are calling for a full statutory public inquiry into NHS management breakdowns and third-party private clinic arrangements.

A public inquiry would ensure full transparency, compel witness testimony under oath, and establish complete accountability for those affected.

When should you seek independent legal advice?

Understanding the difference between an internal NHS review and an independent legal investigation is essential when deciding your next steps.

NHS look-back review

An internal audit conducted by the hospital trust to review clinical care, identify patient safety failures, and inform patients of treatment outcomes. It’s free to access but doesn’t compensate you for personal harm.

Independent legal advice

Professional legal representation from specialist clinical negligence solicitors working strictly on your behalf. We independently investigate your care, instruct external medical experts, and pursue compensation for physical injury, psychological trauma, and financial losses.

While participating in the NHS review is a vital first step, relying solely on internal trust findings may not give you full accountability. Seeking independent advice becomes crucial if your review confirms sub-standard care or if you suspect you suffered avoidable harm. Expert solicitors secure independent oncology and histopathology evidence to ensure your long-term care needs, loss of earnings, and therapy costs are fully calculated.

County Durham breast cancer review FAQs

How do I know if my breast cancer care in Durham was affected?

CDDFT is contacting affected patients directly as part of their look-back review. If you received breast treatment, surgery, or screening at the trust between 2012 and 2025 and have concerns, call the official trust helpline directly on 0191 333 2126.

What is the County Durham NHS Trust breast review looking back to?

The audit initially examined 539 patient cases formally reviewed between January 2023 and February 2025. The trust board has since approved extending the review to cover approximately 4,500 patient records dating back to 2015, alongside investigating governance concerns back to 2012.

Do I need a solicitor to join the NHS breast review?

No, you don’t need a solicitor to participate in the NHS look-back review or contact the trust helpline. The NHS audit is free and accessible to all patients. A solicitor is only needed if you decide to pursue an independent claim for clinical negligence.

What counts as clinical negligence in breast cancer care?

Clinical negligence occurs when medical care falls below acceptable professional standards and directly causes avoidable harm. Examples include unnecessary mastectomies, excessive tissue removal, or delayed cancer diagnoses that allowed disease progression.