Twenty women had mastectomies they didn't need while being treated for breast cancer and hundreds suffered harm, NHS trust admits

More than 300 women have been harmed by the cancer care they received at an NHS Trust, including at least 20 undergoing unnecessary mastectomies.Patients have described the shock they felt when they were told the removal of their breast could have been avoided, leaving them with both psychological and physical pain. Out of 514 cases reviewed by the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT), 315 have been found to have suffered harm, with 77 of them significantly harmed. One patient is known to have died. Steve Russell, who has recently taken over as CDDFT's chief executive, has told the BBC he apologises 'unreservedly' for the harm caused by the trust.'There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am and my colleagues are for those outcomes and the harm that those women have experienced,' he said. 'What happened was utterly unacceptable.'The trust has also identified missed or delayed cancer diagnoses that led to some of the patients subsequently seeing their cancer spread, said Mr Russell. Denise Howarth, 51, from Consett, County Durham, is one of several women who have been notified by the NHS that their mastectomy was unnecessary. Denise Howarth, 51, from Consett, County Durham, who was told by the NHS that their mastectomy was unnecessary, said she was left in 'shock' after being notifiedShe said: 'I was just in shock, then ended up in tears on the phone. I can’t believe what you’re saying. It’s all good and well an apology. It can't give me my breast back'.After discovering a lump in her breast, Ms Howarth was diagnosed with grade 1 cancer in 2023. She underwent a lumpectomy, then a mastectomy, as well as eight rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.However, in September 2025, she received a call from the NHS, which was quickly followed by a letter from CDDFT, to tell her she could have been offered a second lumpectomy rather than full breast removal.Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the trust's helpline about a mastectomy she had undergone in 2021 after being told earlier this year that the procedure could have been avoided.The former NHS worker said she had trusted the people she considered colleagues to make the best decisions for her. 'You go to work to do your best, don't you?,' she said. 'So why would I think that anybody else wouldn't?'She added that she now feels 'mutilated' by the operation and says the mistakes made are 'absolutely unforgivable'. The consultant overseeing the pair's cancer was Amir Bhatti, the CDDFT's clinical lead for breast services between 2013 and 2024. Mr Bhatti has now been suspended from carrying out clinical practice but is still employed by the trust on full pay.CDDFT is carrying out an internal review of breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, alongside the cases of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline.It is understood that a decision on whether to extend the scope of the review to look at cases dating back to 2015 is imminent. This means that up to 10,000 medical records could be reopened. The National Crime Agency says it is now working with Durham Police to investigate the allegations by former patients to determine if criminal offences have taken place.Last year, the BBC reported that the trust had been paid almost £6million to breast cancer diagnostic clinics and surgery companies run privately by Mr Bhatti. Amir Bhatti, the CDDFT's clinical lead for breast services between 2013 and 2024, has now been suspended from carrying out clinical practice but is still employed by the trust on full payHowever, concerns were raised in a 2025 review, in which governance specialist Mary Aubrey said outsourcing patient appointments had created financial incentives which were potentially 'a risk to clinical standards'. Mr Russell argued that payment per service is not uncommon in healthcare but said that the trust has ended this arrangement for breast cancer services. The review also suggested patients were potentially treated by locum consultants who were not competent.It noted that Mr Bhatti had repeatedly voiced his concerns about trust delays in obtaining vital diagnostic equipment.When approached, Mr Bhatti said: 'I am grateful for the opportunity to respond, but I remain committed to the ongoing trust investigation, and it would be inappropriate for me to discuss this whilst proceedings are ongoing.' Concerns were also raised by the Royal College of Surgeons in a report last year, which claimed that breast cancer cases had not been discussed properly in multi-disciplinary team meetings. The trust said it is fully cooperating with the investigation by Durham Police and the National Crime Agency.A support group where women can share their experiences is meeting at Beamish Football Centre in the town of Stanley, with the group now putting its focus on calling for a public inquiry.One of the group's organisers, Lynn, says she has been told by the trust that her breast removal was unnecessary.'I didn't realise how many ladies lived so near me that had been affected,' said Lynn. 'I'm just totally overwhelmed.'The Department of Health and Social Care said their thoughts are with the women and families affected by these unacceptable failings in care. It said the trust was working urgently with NHS England, the Care Quality Commission and independent experts to address what had happened and to ensure that all future patients receive safe care. Breast Cancer Scandal: Exposing the Harm will be available on BBC iPlayer and broadcast on BBC One in the North East & Cumbria at 7:30pm on Friday September 18