A BBC investigation, supported by independent clinical reviews, identified over 200 women who may have been affected by substandard treatment. At least 43 patients suffered significant harm, and one death is currently being investigated. Nearly 1,600 patient records are being reviewed. 

 

What Went Wrong? 

The investigation found several serious issues, including: 

  • Use of outdated diagnostic techniques, including fine needle aspiration, which is no longer considered safe or reliable 
  • Delays in diagnosis, with some patients waiting weeks for test results that should take no more than 48 hours 
  • Missed cancers, incomplete investigations and a failure to follow national clinical guidelines 
  • Low rates of breast reconstruction after mastectomy – 7.5% compared to the 25% national benchmark 
  • Very short surgery times, raising safety concerns 
  • Reports of a lack of compassion in how patients were treated 

Concerns about breast care at CDDFT date back more than ten years. In 2012, the Trust lost training accreditation for breast surgery, and a later review – known as the Aubrey Review – found repeated missed opportunities to take action. 

 

The Human Impact 

Many women have spoken out about the lasting impact this has had on their lives. Some experienced unnecessary operations, delays that made their treatment less effective, or ongoing pain. Others described being rushed through appointments with little explanation or support – leaving them frightened, confused and distressed. 

 

Questions Over Governance 

Almost £6 million was paid to private “two-week-wait” clinics run by the Trust’s then clinical lead, who also had a directorship in the company delivering those services. The Royal College of Surgeons raised concerns about conflicts of interest and whether these arrangements affected the standard of care. 

 

A Pattern We’ve Seen Before 

At Thompsons Solicitors, we represented around 650 women harmed by rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson. Sadly, the issues now emerging at CDDFT are all too familiar – including outdated medical practices, unnecessary treatment, poor communication, and a failure to protect patients. 

Linda Millband, the head of group actions at Thompsons Solicitors, said: 

“Patients are entitled to more than warm words about ‘reviews’ and ‘learning lessons’ – they need immediate, concrete safeguards and full transparency about what went wrong and who is being held to account.” 

 

How We Can Help 

If you’re worried about the care you or a loved one received at CDDFT, our specialist medical negligence team is here to support you. We understand how distressing it can be to learn that something may have gone wrong with your treatment – and we’re here to help you take the next steps. 

We offer: 

  • A free initial assessment of your care and medical records 
  • Straightforward, compassionate guidance throughout the process 
  • No win, no fee representation to help you secure answers and full compensation. 

 

Talk to Our Team 

If you’ve received breast cancer treatment at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and have concerns, we’re ready to listen. 

Please contact Linda Millband on 0800 0 224 224 to speak in confidence.