NHS Trust Admits 20 Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies

A National Health Service trust in northeast England has admitted that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies as part of their breast cancer treatment. The County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) revealed these figures as part of an internal review into its breast unit, which has been marred by serious failures.

Steve Russell, the trust's chief executive, has issued an unreserved apology for the harm caused, stating, "What happened was utterly unacceptable." The revelations follow previous reporting by the BBC that highlighted significant issues within the unit.

Many affected women and their families have come forward, describing the shock and distress of learning that a mastectomy could have been avoided. They also spoke of the ongoing psychological and physical pain they endure. Some former patients have united to support each other and are calling for a public inquiry.

CDDFT is currently reviewing breast cancer cases treated between January 2023 and February 2025. An internal review of 514 cases examined so far has found that 315 patients suffered harm, with 77 experiencing significant harm. One patient's death is attributed to the failures.

The review has also identified instances where cancer diagnoses were missed or delayed, leading to the spread of the disease in some patients. The trust is considering extending the scope of its review to include cases dating back to 2015, which could involve examining up to 10,000 medical records. The National Crime Agency and Durham Police are investigating allegations of criminal offenses.

Denise Howarth, a 51-year-old from County Durham, was diagnosed with slow-growing cancer in 2023 and underwent a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. She was informed that a second lumpectomy could have been an alternative to breast removal, but this option was never discussed with her.

Another patient, known as Jo, had a mastectomy in 2021 and was told earlier this year that the procedure could have been avoided. She expressed feelings of being "mutilated" and described the trust's mistakes as "absolutely unforgivable."

The consultant overseeing care for these patients was Amir Bhatti, who served as CDDFT's clinical lead for breast services from 2013 to 2024. He has been suspended from clinical practice but remains employed by the trust. Previously, reports indicated the trust paid nearly £6 million over six years to private clinics and surgery companies run by Bhatti. A 2025 governance review noted that outsourcing patient appointments created potential risks to clinical standards due to financial incentives.

Russell acknowledged a conflict of interest that was not properly managed and stated that the trust has since ended the outsourcing arrangement for breast cancer services.

Pam Brown underwent a mastectomy in 2022 at a private hospital where one of the outsourced clinics was based. While her mastectomy was deemed necessary, the physical and psychological impact has been severe. A former breast cancer surgeon described Pam's scarring as "awful" and unacceptable.

A report by the Royal College of Surgeons last year also raised concerns about outdated practices, including inadequate multidisciplinary team meetings where treatment plans should be reviewed by a range of specialists. The report suggested that decisions were being made based on individual surgeons' opinions without sufficient challenge.

CDDFT is cooperating with the police investigation. For the women affected, the physical disfigurement and emotional distress are lifelong consequences. The support group organizing to advocate for a public inquiry includes women who have also been informed that their breast removal was unnecessary.

Amir Bhatti stated that he is grateful for the opportunity to respond but is committed to the ongoing trust investigation and finds it inappropriate to discuss the matter while proceedings are underway.