County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Breast Cancer Service failings
More than one thousand cases are under review after serious failings at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s Breast Cancer Service, including missed diagnoses, unnecessary surgery and delays. The review has now been extended back to 2015, with cases reviewed one year at a time.
Latest update on the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust review
Chloe Gibson, Medical Negligence Solicitor
“We welcome the decision to extend the review, but some women could still wait years for answers. If you have concerns about the care you received, you don’t have to wait for the review to reach you. We can start investigating your care now and help you get the answers you deserve.”
Failures to diagnose breast cancer and unnecessary surgeries leave patients suffering severe harm
Women across County Durham have shared devastating experiences of poor care at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) Breast Cancer Service, including failures to diagnose cancer, unnecessary mastectomies, lack of breast reconstruction options, and life-altering scarring.
The service, delivered from University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital, is under investigation following an independent report by the Royal College of Surgeons, which raised serious concerns about the care provided.
Durham Police have also confirmed that they are looking into the breast cancer service.
If you have questions about your care, or you’re unsure what the latest developments mean for you, our team is here to listen, talk things through at your pace, and offer free, confidential guidance whenever you’re ready.
Rushed 'conveyor belt' appointments were unsafe and robbed patients of their dignity
Many patients referred to the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Breast Service were sent to one of two private ‘two-week-wait’ clinics led by Mr Amir Bhatti, who was also the Trust’s clinical lead for breast surgery and a director of Durham Surgical Services, one of the companies behind the clinics.
The Trust’s Independent External Review of Governance report found that patients were being seen at a much higher volume than guidelines recommend, with appointments scheduled for just 10 minutes rather than the required 15 to 20 minutes. The report found that these practices were ‘inconsistent with the principles of safe, sustainable clinical practice’.
Patients have reported feeling like they were on a ‘conveyor belt’, with little opportunity to ask questions and concerns about how their dignity was maintained. Questions have also been raised about clinical practices, including the use of fine needle aspiration (FNA) testing, which can result in inadequate samples and potentially contribute to missed or delayed diagnoses.
Who has been affected?
Following the independent external governance review, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that over a thousand breast surgery cases were being reviewed.
With the scope of the review now extended, many more women could be affected. It is important that the full scale of what happened is understood and that women and their families receive honest and transparent answers about the care they received.
At Slater and Gordon, we are now acting for a growing number of women who have suffered life-changing consequences as a result of their treatment at Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service. Earlier this year, we held a legal clinic, where many women spoke with our specialist breast cancer negligence lawyers to understand their legal options.
One of our clients, Yvonne, described her experience as akin to a ‘cattle market’ and spoke of how she was forced to sit for hours in a waiting room at 80 years old, only to be seen for a matter of seconds by Mr Amir Bhatti.
What followed was a series of delays in diagnosis and three surgeries within the space of 12 weeks, including a lumpectomy, a procedure to remove nodes, and a mastectomy – one of which she was later told was unnecessary.
“The care was very impersonal throughout, I have never been spoken to in such an abrupt way, but I just came to accept it. It was a very difficult time of course, I discovered I had breast cancer, I had three operations, I had a mastectomy – but at the grand old age of 80, you just get on with things,” Yvonne said.
“But knowing now that I had one surgery too many, which meant a longer recovery period, and my care should have been better and quicker – as the Trust said, it was ‘lax’ – is very difficult. One of my friends has had a similar experience, and she has said she has blocked it all out as it’s so traumatic for her. For me, I haven’t.”
What to do if you’ve been affected
If you or a loved one received care from the County Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service and have concerns about the treatment you received, you can speak to our specialist team for free, confidential advice.
We can listen to your concerns, begin looking into the care you received and help you understand your legal options.
How can we help you?
The consequences of negligent cancer care are often devastating for patients and their families. We put our trust in the medical professionals whose job it is to provide treatment and care and learning that standards have not been met due to negligence can be an emotional and unsettling time.
At Slater and Gordon, our dedicated medical negligence team have supported hundreds of clients in dealing with the consequences of negligent cancer treatment, from misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis to unnecessary surgeries and procedures. We have offices across the UK, including in the North East, where many of our leading medical negligence specialists are supporting those affected by the failings in care at CDDFT's Breast Cancer Service.
We are ranked in the independent legal directory Chambers and Partners and in the Legal 500, showcasing our dedication to providing outstanding medical negligence legal services
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and we’re Lexcel accredited, which was introduced by The Law Society as a quality mark for client cases, practice management and legal compliance
Our specialist team includes highly experienced litigation nurses and midwives who work collaboratively with our solicitors to investigate medical negligence claims, helping us to identify precisely how the care you received failed to meet proper standards and the impact that this has had
We take a holistic and compassionate approach to every case we pursue, with a strong focus on any treatment, care and support, or rehabilitation you may need to move forward
Over the years, our dedication to protecting the rights of the individual have resulted in thousands of 5-star reviews and an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot.
Speak to our breast cancer negligence specialists today
I have recently used Slater and Gordon to represent me regarding a Medical Negligence Claim using the "No Win, No Fee" system. Senior Associate John Lowther was assigned to my case. He was extremely professional, listened and acted on my concerns and always communicated promptly. He is a very competent Medical Negligence Solicitor.
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Will making a claim for compensation make a difference?
Making a compensation claim can have many benefits for yourself, your family, and for others who are seeking care for the same condition. It can provide valuable resources and financial stability, granting you access to crucial treatment and rehabilitation options, as well as covering any financial losses you may have suffered due the negligent treatment.
It can also help highlight your experiences, helping those in similar situations come forward and getting the support they need, and driving improvements in services to prevent further cases.
We understand that making a legal claim can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be with the right legal support at your side. Speak to our friendly medical negligence specialists today on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online to learn more about how we can help you.
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We’ll also reach out to those responsible for your negligent treatment to establish liability as quickly as possible, which will enable us to secure interim payments to support your treatment and care.
Throughout your case, our industry-leading experts will pursue your claim and aim to settle negotiations quickly, securing the compensation you deserve without the hassle. We’ll keep you informed at every step of the way, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.
How much compensation could I be owed?
It is not possible to say how much compensation you’re likely to be owed, as it depends on how severe your injuries are, your current financial losses, and the pain, suffering and losses you’re likely to have in the future.
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I have recently used Slater and Gordon to represent me regarding a Medical Negligence Claim using the "No Win, No Fee" system. Senior Associate John Lowther was assigned to my case. He was extremely professional, listened and acted on my concerns and always communicated promptly. He is a very competent Medical Negligence Solicitor. Andrea
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim. Ms S (medical negligence client)