Breast cancer patient died due to trust's failings

A woman died due to the failings of a breast cancer service at a scandal-hit hospital trust, it has been confirmed.

County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is re-examining the medical records of 1,500 patients dating back to 2023 and out of 357 reviewed, 245 patients were found to have come to harm.

The trust is now considering reviewing patients seen before 2023 and is working with NHS England to recruit more expert reviewers.

It said it had new management and had made "significant improvements". Durham Police is investigating to see if any criminal offences have been committed.

The trust has been under scrutiny after the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board commissioned the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) to carry out an independent review of the breast surgery service.

The RCS team revealed cancers that were missed, mastectomies that may not have been necessary, incidents of chemotherapy not being offered and surgery undertaken to remove lymph nodes when not clinically necessary.

A further review of governance by Mary Aubrey found significant problems at the trust dating back to 2012.

"These failures had significant physical, emotional and psychological consequences for both patients and staff," the review said.

With a new management team in place, Steve Russell now leads a trust fraught with problems - most significantly around breast cancer care.

The circumstances of the woman's death are being further investigated.

Lawyers representing the women are calling for the trust to widen the scope of reviews and go back further.

The trust said it was being advised by NHS England and four other trusts with experience of carrying out reviews to decide how far back to go.

Gill Hunt interim chief nurse at CDDFT said: "Our look-back review remains a priority.

"We are increasing independent clinical reviewers to complete this work as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and we are continuing to contact and support affected patients.

"We know many patients and families have been deeply affected by past failures in our breast service and we are truly sorry for the harm caused."

She also said major changes had been made including strengthening clinical leadership and bringing in specialist surgeons.

"Outcomes have improved, with more breast-conserving surgery and reconstruction and fewer patients needing further operations," she added.

Mother-of-three Leanne Canavan, 41, of Bishop Auckland, was diagnosed when she was 39.

The paediatric nurse, who works for the trust, said there were delays in her diagnosis which put her "life at risk".

She said: "If I had trusted the system and not returned I believe the cancer could have spread and eventually left my three children without a mother.

"The lymph node surgery has left me with another scar which isn't the neatest job.

"I underwent intensive treatment which had a significant impact on mine and my families lives, I believe if I had been diagnosed earlier this wouldn't have been needed."

Durham Police opened a portal - for people to report their concerns if they believe they are a victim of crime as a result of breast cancer treatment at the trust between 2023 and 2025.

A hospital helpline has so far taken more than 500 calls.

Clinical negligence solicitor Chloe Gibson, of Slater and Gordon Lawyers, said: "From the dozens of cases we have of women who have been left traumatised by their experience, many pre-date the scope of the inquiry.

"We know that appalling care was being delivered as far back as the mid-2010s.

"We believe the problems that exist are systemic and the scope of the review should be significantly widened to ensure that all women who have been failed are found and they are given the answers and support they need."

Francesca Paul, partner at Fletchers Solicitors, said the priority must be "transparency, accountability, and patient safety".

"Given the potential scale and duration of these failures, we believe the investigation must be both thorough and far-reaching.

"Limiting the timeframe risks missing earlier failings and denying some women the opportunity for review, support, or appropriate follow-up."

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by cancer, BBC Action Line has a list of organisations that may be able to help.

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