Expert medical negligence solicitors at Switalskis have again expressed their concerns over patient safety at a County Durham NHS Trust after receiving more calls from patients worried about the breast cancer care they received.

The news follows calls by patients at the end of 2025 for an independent inquiry into breast cancer care at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, which operates nine hospitals in the region – including Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham in the city of Durham and  Bishop Auckland Hospital.

An independent review last year found that more than 200 women suffered harm during their care under the Trust's medical teams with incidents reported unnecessary mastectomies, delayed diagnoses and a lack of compassionate care.

Concerns expressed by women treated by the Trust

Our highly-experienced medical negligence teams, which have supported clients in other cases where they have experienced harm at one of the Trust’s hospitals, are now being contacted by women who are concerned over the breast cancer care they have experienced while under the Trust’s care.

These include a woman, who cannot be named, who underwent a mastectomy of her left breast in early 2019 at Darlington Memorial Hospital, after being diagnosed with grade 2 cancer. She was not given any alternative to the mastectomy before the procedure was carried out.

Reconstruction surgery was not discussed with her at the time and it was not until last year – some five years on from surgery – that she finally underwent reconstruction treatment, leaving her deeply distressed by the delay, which affected her life.

She contacted the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust last summer to share her concerns when she became aware of the wider issues. She has now received a letter confirming that an external expert, independent to the Trust, has reviewed her case and identified aspects of her care which could have been improved.

This includes the fact that alternatives to a full mastectomy should have been discussed with her and alternative options offered. This has left her deeply upset and determined to find answers as to why this information was not shared.

Unnecessary mastectomies and failures to discuss immediate reconstructive surgery and alternative options are all issues which have been flagged through the independent review led by governance specialist Mary Aubrey, which began its work in July 2025.

‘Too little, too late but a right to get answers’: our expert’s view

Commenting on the ongoing concerns with the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, North East-based Clare Thompson , a Director in the medical negligence team at Switalskis who has handled a large number of breast cancer cases, said: “The continued reports highlighting patient safety concerns at the Trust will be deeply worrying for any woman who has had breast cancer treatment at one of its hospitals.

“We are being contacted by concerned women who have seen the reports and already had concerns about their treatment. It’s bad enough to think that your own treatment may not have met the standards required but to find out that as many as 200 other women have also suffered harm makes things much harder for all of these patients to process.

“Breast cancer treatment is of course a hugely sensitive area of healthcare. A mastectomy is deeply distressing for those who experience such treatment so it’s entirely understandable that any women who has concerns over the treatment they received will now be seeking answers from the Trust.

“Tragically, any improvements will be too little, too late for those affected but we will support those women who have contacted us to date and any that ask for our help in the coming weeks. The women affected need emotional understanding as well as legal support to help them come to terms with what has happened to them and, most importantly, to get the answers to the questions they rightly have.

“They will be determined to ensure the same errors can’t happen again in the future and that lessons are learned. We will of course help them to do so.”

Multiple failings at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust found by review

Reports suggest that concerns had been expressed about breast cancer care at centres such as Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham in the city of Durham and Bishop Auckland Hospital since as long ago as 2012.

Governance specialist Mary Aubrey ‘s review of breast surgery services at the Trust began in July 2025. Originally tasked with reviewing surgery carried out between 2018 to 2024, it has since been extended to cover the period 2012 to 2025.

The review has already highlighted patients who underwent Fine Needle Aspirations and those who were operated upon or treated in 2023 as being potentially at the highest risk.

Other issues identified so far have included:

• Patients sustaining harm due to outdated clinical procedures;
• Patients undergoing unnecessary procedures, including unnecessary mastectomies and excessive surgery;
• Failures to be informed about alternative options or to offer immediate reconstruction surgery, which led to prolonged emotional harm.

Trust sets up helpline

Managers at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust have confirmed that they will contact breast cancer patients who may have been affected and suffered harm. A dedicated helpline has been set up along with a dedicated email address for any patients with concerns.

Anyone worried about their future care has been urged to call 0191 333 2126 or email cddft.breastservices@nhs.net .

The Trust’s nine hospitals across County Durham are:

• Bishop Auckland Hospital
• Chester-le-Street Community Hospital
• Darlington Memorial Hospital
• Peterlee Community Hospital
• Richardson Community Hospital
• Shotley Bridge Community Hospital
• Sedgefield Community Hospital
• University Hospital of North Durham
• Weardale Community Hospital

How Switalskis can help with failings at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

If you or a loved one received breast cancer treatment or breast surgery at any of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust hospitals and experienced harm, delayed diagnoses, unnecessary procedures, or a lack of compassionate care, your voice matters.

Surgery negligence experts at Switalskis are supporting calls for an independent inquiry into breast cancer care at the Trust. This inquiry would investigate what went wrong, ensure lessons are learned, and help prevent future patients from experiencing similar trauma.

For advice and support from our experienced medical negligence specialists, contact the team today to discuss your situation confidentially. Call us on 08001380458 or email help@switalskis.com .