Update on the Response to Failings in the Breast Cancer Service at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) has now published its formal response to the independent reviews into serious failings within its breast cancer service. The report which encompasses clinical reviews, the findings of the Northern Cancer Alliance, the Royal College of Surgeons, and the extensive governance review known as the Aubrey Report- sets out the full scale of the issues and outlines how the Trust intends to make long-term, systemic change.

The Trust’s leadership has issued a direct and unreserved apology, acknowledging that patients were harmed through delayed diagnoses, outdated clinical practice, unnecessary surgery, missed treatment options and a culture that did not prioritise safety or listen to concerns. They have accepted full responsibility for what happened and committed to rebuilding trust through transparency, accountability and meaningful improvement.

While this response from the Trust is a significant and necessary step, it remains vital that every affected patient and family receives answers and support as quickly as possible. Many people are still waiting to understand what these failings mean for their health, their future care, or their right to seek redress—and ensuring they receive timely communication and help must remain the priority.

Key points from the Trust’s response

A clear apology and acceptance of responsibility

The new Chief Executive and Interim Chair have acknowledged “unacceptable care,” “avoidable harm,” and “loss of trust,” stating plainly that the organisation was too slow to act and allowed unsafe practice and poor governance to persist for over a decade.

Support for affected patients

The Trust has:

• Appointed senior nurses to support patients and families directly.
• Commissioned independent clinical reviews of all patients who underwent surgery during 2023, with further reviews planned for 2024–2025.
• Committed to open disclosure where care fell outside expected standards.
• Offered psychological support where appropriate.

However, the volume of patients affected means some families may still be waiting to hear from the Trust. Anyone with ongoing concerns is encouraged to contact the dedicated helpline: 0191 333 2126 or [email protected].

Immediate changes to the breast service

The Trust has implemented significant reforms intended to bring the service back in line with national standards, including:

• Ending all insourcing/outsourcing arrangements linked to concerning clinical practice.
• Recruiting new oncoplastic breast surgeons and bringing in expert support from Newcastle.
• Ensuring double-reading of mammograms and replacing outdated diagnostic equipment.
• Strengthening multidisciplinary decision-making.
• Reducing unnecessary surgery, improving reconstruction options and lowering re-operation rates.

These changes have already led to improvements in outcomes, but capacity remains reduced while the service stabilises—meaning some patients are still experiencing delays.

Findings of the Aubrey Report

The independent governance review reveals deep-rooted failures across:

• Leadership and corporate governance
• Clinical governance
• Culture and psychological safety
• Management and supervision of doctors
• Financial governance and conflicts of interest

The report identifies repeated missed warnings, inadequate escalation of risk, outdated and unsafe clinical practice, and a culture that discouraged staff from speaking up.

The Trust’s improvement plan

CDDFT has committed to a long-term programme of change across six key areas:

1. Leadership and corporate governance
2. Clinical governance
3. Organisational culture
4. Management and support for doctors
5. Financial governance and contract management
6. Breast-service-specific reforms

These programmes will be overseen by the Board, supported by external scrutiny from NHS England, and reported publicly.

Our view: a strong response- but support must reach patients without delay

The honesty and scope of this response represent an important turning point. For many affected families, acknowledgement of what went wrong has been long awaited and deeply needed. The detailed improvement plan shows a commitment to building a safer, more compassionate service in the future.

However, for those living with the consequences of these failings today, the priority must be swift communication, clear answers and robust support. Many patients are understandably anxious as they wait for their case review or seek explanations about past treatment. It is essential that:

• Reviews are completed as quickly as possible.
• Patients are updated promptly and compassionately.
• Anyone harmed receives the care, guidance and redress they are entitled to.
• No one feels left waiting or unheard.

We will continue to follow developments closely and support those who have been impacted. If you or a family member are concerned about care received from the breast service at County Durham and Darlington, or if you have been contacted about a review and would like advice, please get in touch.

You are not alone, and help is available.