Police probe breast cancer treatment allegations

A police force is investigating allegations surrounding breast cancer treatment at a hospital trust.

Durham Police is working to establish if any criminal offences were committed in light of concerns over the care of patients at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).

A report last year found unnecessary surgeries were carried out, cancers were missed and poor standards of care were delivered at the University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

CDDTF said it wanted to support the patients it had let down, including by offering access to psychological support, and to ensure they knew how to make a claim or raise concerns with police.

The Durham force has opened a portal where anyone can 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 police spokesman said: "We would stress that the investigation remains in its early stages and detectives from the major crime team are liaising with the trust, which is supporting the inquiry."

Hudgell Solicitors, a legal firm representing some affected patients, said it feared a patient look back review was progressing too slowly and had so far "only scratched the surface" of problems identified.

Solicitor Hayley Collinson said she had been supporting women who believed they had been affected by delayed diagnosis, had mastectomies they did not require, and patients who had not been offered reconstructions when they should have.

She said: "We're in a situation where thousands of women are currently left not knowing if the treatment they received was the most appropriate for them, and whether they suffered harm as a result of the many failings which were allowed to continue unaddressed for many years."

The trust said it was continuing to contact affected patients including offering a "detailed review of their care" and discussions with independent clinical experts.

A spokesman said: "Our review of breast services identified that we had let some patients down and we understand the distress and uncertainty this has caused.

"We want to support those patients and their families in the best way possible."

The trust said it was fully supporting police.

"In response to the breast services review, we have made significant improvements, including bringing our processes in line with national best practice, appointing new surgeons and introducing new clinics and ways of working to strengthen care for patients," the spokesman added.