Twenty Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies, Says NHS Trust
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Watch: Denise (pictured), Pam and other women describe how they were failed
By Sharon Barbour, North East & Cumbria health correspondent, Victoria Archer, BBC Local Investigations and Ben Milne.
Published 18 September 2026, 00:36 BST Updated 15 minutes ago
Twenty women underwent mastectomies needlessly while being treated for breast cancer at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) in north-east England, according to the trust itself.
These revelations follow serious failings exposed by the BBC last year in the CDDFT's breast unit.
Steve Russell, who recently took over as CDDFT's chief executive, extends his "unreserved" apology for the harm caused.
"There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am. What happened was utterly unacceptable."
Dozens of affected women and their families reached out after our initial reporting. They shared stories of shock at learning their mastectomies (removal of all or part of a breast) were unnecessary, as well as the ongoing psychological and physical struggles many face.
We also met former patients who have united to support one another and call for a public inquiry.
CDDFT is conducting an internal review of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside dedicated helpline calls from 640 former patients. Of the 514 reviewed so far, 315 have been found to have suffered harm, including 77 who experienced significant harm. One patient's death is also documented.
The BBC understands a decision is pending on expanding the review scope to include cases dating back to 2015, potentially involving up to 10,000 medical records. The National Crime Agency is collaborating with Durham Police to investigate allegations from former patients and determine if criminal offenses occurred.