NHS trust admits 20 women had unnecessary mastectomies in breast cancer care

September 18, 2026 at 04:36 AM2 min

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Twenty women underwent unnecessary mastectomies while being treated for breast cancer at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, the trust has told the BBC. The trust's chief executive Steve Russell apologised unreservedly for the harm caused. The National Crime Agency is now working with Durham Police to investigate allegations by former patients.

Key Facts

Twenty women underwent mastectomies unnecessarily while being treated for breast cancer at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust.
Of 514 cases reviewed by the trust so far, 315 patients were found to have suffered harm, including 77 who were significantly harmed.
One patient is known to have died.
The trust is reviewing breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside cases of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline.
The National Crime Agency is working with Durham Police to investigate allegations by former patients and determine if any criminal offences have taken place.

Trust Admission

County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust has told the BBC that twenty women underwent mastectomies unnecessarily while being treated for breast cancer. Steve Russell, who recently took over as CDDFT's chief executive, apologised unreservedly for the harm the trust caused. Russell said there are no words to convey how personally distressed he is and that what happened was utterly unacceptable. The trust is carrying out an internal review of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025. Russell told BBC's Today programme the trust will meet in the coming week to decide whether to extend the review to up to 10,000 cases dating back as far as 2015.

Patient Harm

Of 514 cases reviewed by the trust so far, 315 patients have been found to have suffered harm, including 77 who were significantly harmed. One patient is known to have died. Cases have also been identified where cancer diagnoses were missed or delayed, and some of these patients subsequently saw their cancer spread. Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old from Consett, County Durham, was told by the NHS that her breast was removed unnecessarily. Howarth had been diagnosed with grade 1 cancer in 2023 and underwent a lumpectomy, a mastectomy, eight rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Investigation

The National Crime Agency says it is now working with Durham Police to investigate allegations by former patients and determine if any criminal offences have taken place. Dozens of affected women and their families contacted the BBC following earlier reporting. Former patients have come together to support each other and call for a public inquiry. The trust has been taking advice from patients' groups, clinical experts and legal representatives, and Russell said any decision will be made public.