Officials overseeing breast cancer care in County Durham and Darlington have announced an expanded review of historic cases dating back to 2015, covering approximately 4,500 patients. The decision follows growing concerns about significant failings in breast cancer services provided by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, which operates University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.
The review will extend its scope from initial assessments, which focused on cases between January 2023 and February 2025 and included 640 former patients who had reached out via a dedicated helpline. To date, investigations into 514 cases revealed that 315 patients suffered harm, with 77 experiencing significant adverse effects. At least one death is attributed to these failings. Earlier reports highlighted widespread issues, including missed diagnoses and unnecessary surgeries, sparking public apologies from hospital leadership.
The Trust’s board approved a phased approach to the expanded look-back during an extraordinary meeting. According to Steve Russell, the Trust’s chief executive, the board weighed various perspectives and clinical advice before deciding to extend the timeframe incrementally, moving back one year at a time. Russell acknowledged the distress the process might cause but emphasized the Trust’s commitment to transparency, support, and patient outreach as new concerns are identified.
“We remain deeply sorry for the harm and distress caused,” Russell stated, adding that the Trust aims to do the right thing for all affected women and families. Support services will continue to be offered throughout the review, and patients with serious findings will be contacted directly for clinical follow-up.
Despite the expansion, some affected individuals argue that the length and nature of the look-back are insufficient. Nadeen Lister, co-founder of the Pink Justice group and a breast cancer survivor, called for a full public inquiry to address what she described as systemic failings. Lister shared her personal experience, noting a delayed and incorrect initial assessment by surgeon Amir Bhatti, which led to prolonged treatment after the discovery of two tumors initially dismissed as fatty tissue.
During the meeting, non-executive director Phil Kane raised concerns about the review’s duration, which could extend until around 2031. He questioned whether expert reviewers available later in the process would possess the necessary experience to evaluate care delivered as far back as 15 years. Lister echoed these worries, highlighting that aging patients and those with terminal illnesses might never receive closure due to the time frame.
The Trust's medical director, Dr. Eliot Sykes, responded by acknowledging the need for a tailored approach and detailed that efforts are underway to increase the number of specialist reviewers to expedite the process. Board vice-chair Adam Crampsie also voiced concerns that the phased review might be abandoned prematurely, interpreting the gradual approach as potentially dilutive.
Lister expressed emotional distress over the scope of the review, noting surprise at the large number of cases. “I wasn’t aware of that. I got quite emotional when I heard that. I thought ‘Oh my God, how many more?’” she said, underscoring the profound impact the failings have had on patients and their families.
As the Trust continues with its phased evaluation, it faces ongoing pressure from patient advocates and families for clearer answers and accountability surrounding the breaches in breast cancer care over the past decade.