Let's go!

Home ยป County Durham & Darlington Breast Cancer & Mastectomy Claims

What Has Happened at the Durham Breast Service?

The investigation follows the discovery of serious problems involving breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The Trust has confirmed that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies.

Reviews have also identified cases involving excessive surgery, missed or delayed cancer diagnoses and treatment which did not follow best practice.

Hundreds of patients have already been found to have suffered some degree of harm.

The concerns identified have included:

  • Unnecessary mastectomies
  • Excessive or unnecessary breast surgery
  • Delayed diagnosis of breast cancer
  • Missed breast cancer diagnoses
  • Treatment not in line with best practice
  • Patients not being offered immediate breast reconstruction
  • Unnecessary surgery for benign conditions
  • Outdated diagnostic practices

Review Extended Back to 2015

On 24 September 2026, the Trust agreed to significantly expand its Look Back Exercise.

The Trust will complete its existing review covering treatment between January 2023 and February 2025 and will then work backwards, reviewing patients treated in 2022 and then year-by-year back towards 2015.

It has been reported that this could involve reviewing approximately 4,500 additional breast cancer cases.

The scale of the expanded investigation means thousands of former patients may now understandably be questioning whether the breast cancer treatment they received was appropriate.


Were You Treated by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust?

If you received breast cancer investigation, diagnosis or treatment through County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust from 2015 onwards, you may be concerned about whether your treatment was affected.

You may have questions such as:

  • Was my mastectomy really necessary?
  • Did I undergo unnecessary surgery?
  • Should I have been offered breast-conserving surgery?
  • Was my breast cancer diagnosis delayed?
  • Was my cancer missed?
  • Should I have been offered different treatment?
  • Should I have been offered breast reconstruction?
  • Did a delay allow my cancer to spread?
  • Could I be entitled to compensation?

The fact that thousands of cases are being reviewed does not mean that every patient received negligent treatment. Each person’s treatment needs to be considered individually.

You Do Not Have to Wait Years for Answers

With potentially thousands of additional cases now requiring review, the process could take considerable time.

If you are worried about treatment you received, you do not necessarily have to wait for the Trust’s Look Back Exercise before seeking independent legal advice.

A specialist medical negligence solicitor can obtain your medical records and investigate the treatment you received.


Medical Negligence Consultants Can Help

If you need help finding out if you have a case against the Durham NHS Trust, contact Medical Negligence Consultants immediately.

Medical Negligence Consultants can discuss your treatment with you and help appoint a specialist medical negligence solicitor to investigate your case.

Your solicitor can obtain your medical records and, where appropriate, seek independent medical evidence to establish whether mistakes were made and whether those mistakes caused you harm.

Could You Claim Compensation?

Depending on the circumstances, claims could potentially involve:

  • Unnecessary removal of a breast
  • Unnecessary or excessive surgery
  • Delayed cancer diagnosis
  • Missed breast cancer diagnosis
  • Cancer progressing because of a delay
  • Additional cancer treatment
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Psychological injury
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of earnings
  • Future treatment or care

Every case must be assessed individually to establish whether there are grounds for a medical negligence claim.


Were You Treated by the Durham Breast Service From 2015 Onwards?

With up to 4,500 additional breast cancer cases now set to be reviewed, potentially thousands of women may have questions about the treatment they received.

If you need help finding out if you have a case against the Durham NHS Trust, contact Medical Negligence Consultants immediately.

Call Medical Negligence Consultants on 0800 612 4970

Alternatively, complete our Request a Call-Back form and a member of our team will contact you.

Free initial consultation. No obligation.

Request a call-back

Please complete the form below, and a member of our team will call you back to discuss your potential claim…


    Medical negligence

    A Medical Negligence Claim is when a patient has had a sub-standard level of care that has led to a worsening condition, a shortened duration of life or, in the worst case, loss of life.

    Dental negligence

    Dental negligence is where a patient has received substandard care from a dental professional, leading to harm, injury, or other adverse outcomes.

    Care home neglect

    Care home workers have a legal duty to provide a reasonable standard of care to their patients and to act in ways that protect their safety.

    Birthing injury

    If a child or mother are injured by poor treatment during the birthing process, then they may be able to make a Birth Injury claim.