Women traumatised by breast cancer treatment at NHS trust, BBC told

Women traumatised by breast cancer treatment at NHS trust, BBC told

The report reveals serious concerns about breast cancer care at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) in north-east England, where over 200 cases are being investigated due to issues including unnecessary mastectomies, delayed cancer diagnoses, and substandard care.

Key points include:

– Almost 1,600 patient records since 2023 are under review.
– An independent review led by Mary Aubrey highlighted outdated clinical practices, high rates of re-excision surgeries, low rates of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and concerns over outsourcing that posed a risk to clinical standards.
– The trust failed to respond to repeated warnings since 2012 and lost its training center status for breast surgery.
– Over £6 million was paid to private clinics run by the breast cancer surgeon Mr. Amir Bhatti, who led private two-week-wait NHS clinics.
– Case studies of patients like Kate Driver and Dawn Gillott illustrate the human impact, with delayed diagnosis, lack of offered reconstruction, traumatic experiences, and lasting physical and emotional scars.
– The trust apologised for substandard care and acknowledged missed warning signs.

Additional context includes statistics: CDDFT had a mastectomy rate nearly double the UK average (around 50% versus 27%) and a very low rate (7.5%) of immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy, below the national recommended minimum of 25%.

This situation illustrates systemic failings in breast cancer management at CDDFT, with investigations ongoing to address patient harm and institutional shortcomings

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