Hospital bosses in County Durham and Darlington now believe 20 women received unnecessary mastectomies amid a series of devastating failings in care for those with suspected breast cancer, the BBC reported. This comes as a “look-back exercise” which has been examining the care of patients dating back years could see its remit extended this week. The County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust’s board is set to take a decision at a meeting on September 24 which could see the scope of the review of cases expanded to take in those dating back as far as 2015. A Consett woman – Denise Howarth, 51 – has spoken of how she was one of the patients given an unnecessary mastectomy. She said: “They called me at home to say I needn’t have had my breast removed and it was something which really knocked me off my feet, I was completely shocked. I’d had an awful year already as I’d lost two close relatives and my dad was really poorly so I’d never really had much time after my mastectomy to think of myself and my recovery.” Denise had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, but at a follow-up review was told she still needed a mastectomy. Ms Howarth, a mother-of-two being represented by Hudgell Solicitors, underwent the mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiology treatment in September last year, she was contacted by CDDFT and told the mastectomy had not been needed. She added: “I’d just reached a point where I was beginning to focus on myself and to look forward, and then this news came like a bolt out of the blue. You put your trust in professional people. To be so badly let down is something I’ll never be able to come to terms with.” Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here . It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East. Of the trust’s response, Ms Howarth said: “An apology is not enough. This is life-changing I’ve lost so much confidence. I feel robbed of the person I was before. As a woman, losing a breast has a huge impact on you.” A review of cases so far has found hundreds of patients have come to harm during treatment. Thus far, breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025 have been reviewed, alongside those of 640 former patients who contacted a dedicated helpline. Of 514 cases examined so far, 315 patients have been found to have suffered harm, including 77 who suffered significant harm. One patient is known to have died. Steve Russell, who was appointed CDDFT chief executive last year, said in a statement: “We are deeply sorry to the women and families who have been harmed and let down by failings in our breast services. We recognise the profound impact this has had and have been clear that there were opportunities when, as a trust, we should have listened more carefully and acted sooner. “Significant changes have since been made to the breast service and are bringing improvements for patients. Alongside this, the look-back continues to review past care, identify patients who may have experienced harm and make sure they receive appropriate information and support. “On September 24, our trust board will meet in public to consider the future scope and timeframe of the look-back. No final decision has been made and it would not be right to pre-empt the board’s discussion. We will continue to be open about this work and will provide a further update following the meeting. “Our dedicated support line remains available to anyone with concerns about their breast care on 0191 333 2126 or at cddft.breastservices@nhs.net.” Rachel O’Connor, part of the medical negligence team at Hudgell Solicitors, is calling for a public inquiry. She said: “We are currently advising a number of women who have had surgeries they have since been told were not needed. Breast cancer services at hospitals should be places where patients have the reassurance of exceptional care and support, from clinics and scans to surgeries and treatments. “Sadly, at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, this has not been the case for many years, as deep-rooted, systematic failures have led to women suffering serious harm.” One patient, Stanley’s Catriona Dunbar, 41, has spoken of being interviewed by police about the scandal. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023. In a letter to her, the trust’s deputy chief executive, Kelly Angus, has apologised for the “significant distress and upset” caused to her during her treatment. She said the care provided “fell significantly short of the standards expected” and included a lack of informed consent regarding her surgery, providing her with insufficient dressings following surgery, and taking three months to confirm the results of tests to check whether the cancer had returned. Ms Dunbar, who is also represented by Hudgell Solicitors, said: “The letter is full of apologies but there is no accountability. It says things shouldn’t have happened, but there are no admissions as to why, or as to who was at fault, so in some ways it’s made me angrier, because accountability is what we need here. “Nobody is doing the right thing and taking ownership for what has happened to so many women.” ChronicleLive has created a dedicated WhatsApp community for breaking news and our biggest stories. 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Original source: gb