The trust, which has been the subject of a BBC investigation into its care, said it was currently reviewing breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside those of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline.
asserted
who → say → helpline
Some cases have also been identified where cancer diagnoses were missed or delayed, leading to the disease spreading.
asserted
disease → identify → ?
A board meeting of the trust next week will decide whether the review should be extended to review thousands more cases dating back to 2015.
asserted
review → decide → 2015
Denise Howarth, 51, of Consett, County Durham, was diagnosed with stage one cancer in her left breast in February 2023.
asserted
Howarth → diagnose → February
She had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, but at a follow-up review was told she still needed a mastectomy.
asserted
she → have → mastectomy
Ms Howarth, a mother-of-two being represented by Hudgell Solicitors, underwent the mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiology treatment.
asserted
Howarth → represent → chemotherapy
In September last year, she was contacted by CDDFT and told the mastectomy had not been needed.
“They called me at home to say I needn’t have had my breast removed and it was something which really knocked me off my feet, I was completely shocked,” she said.
asserted
she → contact → feet
“I’d had an awful year already as I’d lost two close relatives and my dad was really poorly so I’d never really had much time after my mastectomy to think of myself and my recovery.
asserted
I → lose → myself
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“I’d just reached a point where I was beginning to focus on myself and to look forward, and then this news came like a bolt out of the blue.
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news → read → blue
“You put your trust in professional people.
asserted
You → put → people
To be so badly let down is something I’ll never be able to come to terms with.”
asserted
I → let → terms
Of the trust’s response, Ms Howarth said: “An apology is not enough.
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apology → say → response
This is life-changing.
asserted
This → change → ?
“I’ve lost so much confidence.
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I → lose → confidence
I feel robbed of the person I was before.
asserted
I → feel → person
As a woman, losing a breast has a huge impact on you.
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losing → lose → you
“I fear I will never be the same person again, although I have tried to be strong.
asserted
I → fear → ?
“I find it difficult to choose clothing I feel comfortable and happy in, and it worsens at this time of year as I can’t really wear the summer tops with straps, I always need to wear a T-shirt.”
asserted
I → find → shirt
Steve Russell, who was appointed CDDFT chief executive last year, said in a statement: “We are deeply sorry to the women and families who have been harmed and let down by failings in our breast services.
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who → appoint → services
“We recognise the profound impact this has had and have been clear that there were opportunities when, as a trust, we should have listened more carefully and acted sooner.
asserted
we → recognise → trust
“Significant changes have since been made to the breast service and are bringing improvements for patients.
asserted
changes → make → patients
“Alongside this, the look-back continues to review past care, identify patients who may have experienced harm and make sure they receive appropriate information and support.
uncertain
receive → continue → information
“On September 24, our trust board will meet in public to consider the future scope and timeframe of the look-back.
asserted
board → meet → back
No final decision has been made and it would not be right to pre-empt the board’s discussion.
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it → make → discussion
“We will continue to be open about this work and will provide a further update following the meeting.
asserted
We → continue → meeting
The trust has confirmed to PA that a consultant, Amir Bhatti, was CDDFT’s clinical lead for breast services from 2013 to 2024.
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consultant → confirm → 2024
His clinical practice is currently restricted while an internal trust investigation is carried out, a spokeswoman for the trust said.
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spokeswoman → restrict → trust
She added that the trust has also been co-operating with Durham Police who are looking into what happened at CDDFT.
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what → add → CDDFT
Last year, the BBC reported that nearly £6 million had been paid by the trust over six years to breast cancer diagnostic clinics and surgery companies run privately by Mr Bhatti.
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million → report → Bhatti
Concern about this arrangement was raised in a 2025 external review into the running of the trust, carried out by governance specialist Mary Aubrey.
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Concern → raise → Aubrey
She said outsourcing patient appointments had created financial incentives which were potentially “a risk to clinical standards”.
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which → say → standards
A report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) last year, published by the trust, also said breast cancer cases had not been discussed properly in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs).
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cases → publish → meetings
Rachel O’Connor, part of the medical negligence team at Hudgell Solicitors, is calling for a public inquiry.
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O’Connor → call → inquiry
She said: “We are currently advising a number of women who have had surgeries they have since been told were not needed.
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they → say → surgeries
“Breast cancer services at hospitals should be places where patients have the reassurance of exceptional care and support, from clinics and scans to surgeries and treatments.
asserted
patients → have → surgeries
“Sadly, at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, this has not been the case for many years, as deep-rooted, systematic failures have led to women suffering serious harm.”
asserted
women → lead → harm
Trust board papers, seen by PA, highlight how the Royal College of Surgeons review highlighted “outdated practices within the breast surgery service with the potential to cause physical and/or psychological harm to patients”.
asserted
review → see → patients
It pointed to “evidence of excessive or unnecessary surgery in some cases, and of instances in which patients were not offered all of the options available to them including neo-adjuvant therapy and breast reconstruction.”
asserted
patients → point → therapy
The board said there was also “significant weaknesses in MDT arrangements, including a lack of peer review and challenge to support consensus decision-making.”
asserted
board → say → making
Catriona Dunbar, 41, of Stanley, County Durham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023 and has been interviewed by police about her experiences at the trust.
asserted
Dunbar → diagnose → trust
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
