At a glance
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to extend its breast services look-back into earlier years after serious failings and patient harm were identified.
- The Trust is completing reviews of care provided between January 2023 and February 2025 before moving into 2022 and working backwards towards 2015, one year at a time.
- Recent reporting found that 20 women had undergone unnecessary mastectomies, while other patients suffered moderate or severe harm.
- Patients who are worried about previous breast care can contact the Trust’s dedicated support team on 0191 333 2126 or at cddft.breastservices@nhs.net.
- Durham Constabulary is separately investigating concerns about breast cancer services between 1st January 2023 and 21st February 2025 under Operation Tope.
- You have a legal right to request access to health information the Trust holds about you.
If you or someone you care about received breast cancer care through County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, recent developments may have left you with difficult questions about the treatment you received.
On 24th September 2026, the Trust Board agreed to extend its breast services look-back into earlier years. The Trust will complete the reviews already underway for care between January 2023 and February 2025, then review patients treated in 2022 before working backwards towards 2015, one year at a time.
The decision follows serious concerns about historic breast care at the Trust. Recent reporting found that 20 women had undergone unnecessary mastectomies, while others suffered unnecessary or excessive surgery and other harm.
If you were treated by the service, that doesn’t mean there was necessarily anything wrong with your care. The Trust has said it will contact patients directly if their care needs to be reviewed. But if you’re worried, you don’t have to wait for the Trust to contact you.
This guide explains what the expanded County Durham and Darlington breast services review means, what has happened so far and what you can do if you have concerns about your treatment.
What is the County Durham and Darlington breast cancer review?
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has been reviewing historic breast surgery care after serious concerns were identified about diagnosis, treatment decisions and the way the service was governed.
A Royal College of Surgeons review identified significant concerns within the breast service, including problems with diagnosis, treatment, multidisciplinary working and clinical governance. The Trust has since acknowledged serious and long-standing failings and apologised to patients and families who were harmed.
The current look-back initially focused on patients treated between January 2023 and February 2025.
On 24th September 2026, the Trust Board agreed that the work should go further back. Once the current phase is complete, the Trust will review 2022 and then consider earlier years sequentially, working backwards towards 2015.
The Trust says each patient’s care will be considered individually by independent specialist clinicians, with some cases requiring input from more than one specialist.
Why has the review been extended?
The Trust says the look-back has already identified harm in patients whose care might not have been identified through the original review.
It has also acknowledged that women and patient representatives have argued that the responsibility for identifying affected patients should sit with the Trust rather than with patients having to come forward themselves.
The scale of the concerns has become increasingly clear.
In September 2026, reporting based on the Trust’s review found that 20 women had undergone unnecessary mastectomies. As of 2nd September 2026, 539 cases from the January 2023 to February 2025 review period had been reviewed. Of those, 59 involved moderate harm, 19 involved severe harm and one patient had died.
Separate reporting ahead of the September Trust Board meeting said more than 30 women had been identified as having undergone unnecessary surgery. Board papers estimated that, if the review ultimately works back towards 2015, around 4,500 patients could be reviewed and the process could take several years.
These figures explain why the latest Board decision is so important. It expands the period of historic care that could come under scrutiny rather than limiting the review to the most recent cases.
Which patients and dates are covered by the Trust review?
The current clinical look-back covers care provided between January 2023 and February 2025. The Trust has now agreed to extend the review into 2022. It will then consider earlier years sequentially, working backwards towards 2015 and considering the findings at each stage before deciding what happens next. The review encompasses services across Trust locations, including University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital, and Bishop Auckland Hospital.
Patient groups included in the review scope are those who:
- Underwent surgical procedures for suspected or confirmed breast cancer.
- Were referred through fast-track diagnostic pathways for urgent breast screening.
- Had their care reviewed by multidisciplinary care teams across the Trust.
This review also covers diagnostic and surgical pathways involving associated care providers, such as Durham Surgical Services and Cathedral Surgical Services, where these services integrated with Trust care.
If you were managed through these services, the Trust is reviewing whether diagnostic errors occurred, such as delayed breast cancer diagnosis, or whether unnecessary surgical procedures were recommended. If you’re currently experiencing active symptoms, new changes, or severe distress, you shouldn’t wait for a letter. Contact your GP or the Trust helpline immediately to request an urgent clinical assessment.
How to contact the CDDFT helpline and what happens next
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has a dedicated support line and email address for patients and families with concerns about previous breast care:
Telephone: 0191 333 2126
Email: cddft.breastservices@nhs.net
The Trust has confirmed that this support will remain available throughout the look-back.
You don’t need a solicitor to contact the Trust.
You also don’t need to contact the support team simply because you previously received breast care from CDDFT. The Trust says it will contact patients directly where their care needs to be reviewed.
However, if you are worried about your treatment, you don’t have to wait.
The support team can answer questions about the review and the Trust can arrange further clinical follow-up or support where concerns are identified.
If you currently have new breast symptoms or are worried about your health, contact your GP or treating clinical team rather than waiting for the look-back process.
How can I request my medical records from the NHS Trust?
You have a legal right under the Data Protection Act 2018 to request copies of your personal medical files. Obtaining your records gives you an independent account of your diagnostic tests, scans, and treatment decisions. You don’t have to give a reason for requesting records relating to your own care.
You can make a Data Subject Access Request to the Trust’s Access to Health Team.
Email: cdda-tr.accesstohealth@nhs.net
Telephone: 0191 372 8639
The Trust also accepts requests by post at:
Access to Health Team
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital of North Durham
North Road
Durham
DH1 5TW
Depending on what treatment you received, records you may want to ask for could include:
- Clinic and consultation notes
- Pathology and biopsy results
- Mammogram, ultrasound or other imaging records
- Operation notes
- Multidisciplinary team records concerning your treatment
- Consent documentation
- Correspondence about your diagnosis and treatment
A Subject Access Request gives you a right of access to your personal information, although normal legal exemptions and restrictions can apply.
If you are considering a clinical negligence claim, the Trust also has a separate Legal Services route for requesting records connected with contemplated litigation.
What investigations are happening into Durham NHS breast care?
To establish how care standards were managed and ensure accountability, several formal reviews and investigations are taking place alongside the Trust’s internal look-back exercise.
Durham Constabulary’s Operation Tope
Durham Constabulary has launched an active investigation, known as Operation Tope, supported by national healthcare oversight bodies. This investigation focuses on establishing whether any aspect of patient care involved criminal negligence or systemic failures. Police investigators are working alongside clinical experts to review patient files and hospital processes.
Calls for a statutory public inquiry
Patient advocacy groups, including the Pink Justice Network, are actively calling for a full statutory public inquiry into the county Durham breast cancer scandal. These groups argue that an independent, judge-led inquiry is necessary to scrutinise clinical governance, multidisciplinary decision-making, and communication with patients across the region.
When does speaking to a clinical negligence solicitor help?
Deciding whether to seek legal advice is a personal choice that depends on your individual circumstances and what outcome you are seeking. While the Trust helpline provides medical updates, independent legal guidance helps protect your legal rights if you’ve suffered harm.
| Trust review and support team | Clinical negligence solicitor |
| Reviews historic NHS breast care | Assesses whether negligent care caused you harm |
| Can explain findings relating to your treatment | Advises you about your legal rights and compensation |
| Can arrange clinical follow-up and support | Can obtain and review medical evidence |
| Does not act as your legal representative | Acts independently on your behalf |
You don’t need to wait for the Trust’s review to finish before taking legal advice.
Equally, a finding that something went wrong doesn’t automatically establish a clinical negligence claim. A claim requires evidence that the care fell below a reasonable standard and that this caused or materially contributed to harm.
That harm could include circumstances such as unnecessary or excessive surgery, delayed diagnosis, missed cancer, additional treatment or recognised psychological injury.
If you have concerns, Injury Lawyers 4u can connect you with an independent solicitor experienced in medical negligence claims.
What steps can you take if you were treated by CDDFT breast services?
If you received breast care from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, the latest announcement doesn’t mean there was necessarily a problem with your treatment.
But if you’re concerned, there are practical steps you can take:
- Check for correspondence from the Trust. The Trust says it will contact patients whose care needs to be reviewed.
- Contact the breast services support team if you’re worried. You can call 0191 333 2126 or email cddft.breastservices@nhs.net.
- Speak to your GP or clinical team about current health concerns. Don’t wait for the historic review if you have new symptoms.
- Request your medical records if you want a copy of the information held about your care.
- Consider independent legal advice if you believe failures in your treatment caused you harm.
You don’t have to do everything at once.
If you want to understand your legal options, our team is here to help. Get in touch with Injury Lawyers 4u for clear, pressure-free guidance.
County Durham breast cancer review FAQs
Do I need a solicitor to be included in the County Durham and Darlington breast services review?
No.
The look-back is being carried out by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust with independent clinical input. You don’t need a solicitor for the Trust to review your care.
The Trust says it will identify and contact patients whose care needs to be reviewed as the look-back progresses.
How do I contact the County Durham and Darlington breast services support team?
You can contact the Trust’s dedicated team on:
0191 333 2126
or by email at:
cddft.breastservices@nhs.net
Is every patient treated between 2015 and 2025 being reviewed?
No, not at the same time.
The Trust is currently completing reviews covering January 2023 to February 2025.
It will then move into 2022 and work backwards towards 2015 one year at a time, considering the findings at each stage before deciding what happens next.
What should I do if I suspect my breast cancer care was affected?
If you’re worried about historic treatment, you can contact the CDDFT support team even if the Trust hasn’t contacted you.
You can also request your medical records and speak to your GP or treating team if you have health concerns.
If you believe failures in your treatment caused you harm, you can seek independent legal advice without waiting for the Trust review to finish.
Is Durham Police investigating the breast cancer service?
Yes.
Durham Constabulary’s Operation Tope concerns breast cancer services at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust between 1st January 2023 and 21st February 2025.
Police say they are looking into the circumstances to establish whether any criminal offences occurred and that the investigation remains at an early stage.
Is there going to be a public inquiry?
A public inquiry has been called for by the Pink Justice Network, a support group representing women affected by treatment at the Trust.
As of September 2026, that is a call for an inquiry, not confirmation that a public inquiry has been established.
Is there a time limit for making a breast cancer negligence claim?
In England and Wales, clinical negligence claims are generally subject to a three-year limitation period.
The three years usually run from the date the cause of action arose or from a later date of knowledge where that applies.
In a case involving delayed diagnosis, unnecessary treatment or historic care, the date of knowledge can be particularly important because you might only discover much later that there was a possible problem with your treatment.
Different rules apply in some circumstances, including claims involving children and people who lack mental capacity.
If you are concerned about your deadline, seek advice promptly rather than assuming that the Trust’s ongoing review pauses or extends the limitation period.