Patients deserve answers after damning report reveals CDDFT breast service failings
Breast cancer patients who may have suffered unnecessary mastectomies or delayed diagnoses at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) should never have been exposed to such critical failings.
That’s the view of our experienced Clinical Negligence Solicitor Hannah Entwistle, who is working very closely with a family which has been impacted by the treatment provided by the NHS Trust.
In an independent review into the running of CDDFT, which was published last week, many shortcomings were highlighted – including:
- Outdated practices ignored best-practice guidance, causing missed or delayed cancer diagnoses.
- Frequent repeat surgeries and low rates of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
- Surgeries potentially performed too hastily.
- Outsourced appointments creating conflicts of interest and risking clinical standards.
With more than 200 patients known to have been harmed, 43 cases involving significant harm, the medical records of almost 1,600 patients treated since 2023 are now under examination following concerns about the breast cancer service the trust offered. One death is also being investigated.
One of the most alarming issues in the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s breast surgery services scandal is the fact that clear warning signs were ignored for many years, despite concerns being raised in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
An ordeal which has resulted in a great level of worry for many women and their families across the North East, our medical negligence team is currently part of the probe into this major patient safety investigation at the CDDFT.
Whilst CDDFT has issued an apology to “women and their families who have been harmed because of our substandard care”, we believe they deserve answers for the substandard care which existed over many years, which saw warning signs repeatedly missed or not acted upon.
Reflecting on the trauma which has been caused, Clinical Negligence Solicitor Hannah Entwistle said: “Women who trusted that they were receiving care from skilled breast cancer specialists are now discovering that the services they relied on were unsafe, poorly overseen, hurried, and prone to mistakes with potentially life-changing consequences.
“Through our ongoing work supporting those who have been affected, it seems that patient safety was repeatedly neglected – even though it should have been the foremost concern every single day.
“This level of failure is entirely unacceptable, and the findings of this review must be the catalyst for justice for the profound impact these failures have had on the lives of hundreds of people.
“Those in leadership must be held accountable, and urgent scrutiny is needed to understand why proper governance, policies and procedures were ignored – and why these critical failings were left uncorrected.”
Have you been affected by the treatment provided within the Breast Services at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust?
If you or someone you know have any concerns relating to the treatment provided by CDDFT, we would urge you to call 0191 566 6500 or email law@longdens.co.uk to discuss your case in the strictest confidence.
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