Why This Matters
Recent reporting by the BBC revealed that there are concerns about the care received by hundreds of women treated for breast cancer at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
Many have said that they were “traumatised”, given sub-standard care, or were subjected to unnecessary or overly aggressive surgery. This has meant that some women are facing long-term physical and emotional harm.
If you were treated for breast cancer at CDDFT, or at any other hospital, and you believe that your care may have fallen below acceptable standards, especially if you had a mastectomy (breast removal surgery) without being fully informed of alternatives, or you were denied reconstruction, then you may have grounds to bring a medical-negligence claim. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Went Wrong — Common Problems Identified
Several problems have been identified with the breast cancer care provided at CDDFT:
- Delayed or incorrect diagnosis: Some patients were given outdated diagnostic tests, which do not follow current best practice. This led to uncertainty or late detection of breast cancer.
- Unnecessary or overly aggressive surgery: Several women reported being steered towards mastectomy without being told about other treatment options that were available to them and were less aggressive (e.g. lumpectomy – removal of a lump).
- Failure to offer reconstruction options: Many women were not offered immediate breast reconstruction, despite NHS standards and availability elsewhere.
- Poor communication and lack of informed consent: Patients described being rushed, not being given real choice, and being treated without compassion. They were left feeling like they were “just another case”.
- Structural problems at the trust: It is suggested that the issues at CDDFT could be part of a wider systemic problem, and are not isolated to breast cancer care. Some examples include using private clinics, pressure to process many cases quickly, and weak oversight.
These kinds of failings may amount to medical negligence. If you have any of the above concerns about the care that you or a loved one has received, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Who Might Have a Claim — Could This Apply to You?
You might have a claim for breast cancer negligence if:
- You had treatment at CDDFT’s breast service (or were affected by its failings), or any other hospital, and
- You had a mastectomy (or other major surgery), or
- You were denied or not offered immediate reconstruction, or
- You experienced delayed, incorrect or inadequate diagnosis, or
- You continue to suffer physical complications or symptoms, emotional distress, or long-term adverse effects because of your treatment.
If you have concerns about your treatment, but you are unsure whether it was negligent, it is worth talking to us about it. Our specialist medical-negligence solicitors can advise you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Our Specialist Medical Negligence Team Can Help You
✔ Free, confidential initial consultation
No obligation. We will listen to your story and ask you some questions about what happened. We will consider the information and let you know whether you may have a claim for medical negligence. Contact us today if you have concerns about your treatment, or care received by a loved one.
✔ Independent expert medical review
We work with experienced medical experts who will examine your case, assess what happened, and will prepare a report setting out their opinion on whether the care that you received was negligent.
✔ Support for physical & emotional harm, reconstruction, and future care
If negligence is proven, compensation can include the costs of corrective surgery, reconstructive procedures, psychological support, and additional future care. Although money cannot change what has happened, it can be the first step to help rebuild your life.
✔ No-win, no-fee agreements available
There is nothing for you to pay towards your legal costs if your case does not succeed. This means that you can pursue a claim without financial risk. If your claim does succeed, you will be responsible for some costs from your compensation. We will explain this to you in detail if you decide to go ahead with a claim.
✔ Compassionate, patient-focused legal support
We understand that a cancer diagnosis and treatment is deeply personal, and that if there were problems with your diagnosis or treatment, it can make everything so much worse. Our approach combines legal expertise with sensitivity and respect.
Why Time Matters — Do Not Delay
Medical negligence claims have time limits. It is vital for patients to come forward sooner rather than later — while records, medical evidence and memories remain fresh.
Delays can make securing evidence more difficult, which may weaken a potential claim.
What to Do Next — A Simple 3-Step Guide
- Write down what happened. The date of your diagnosis, type of surgery, any consultations, whether reconstruction was offered, and how you were treated. Write down your concerns.
- Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced legal professional. Contact us on our website or call us to speak confidentially.
- Let us handle the rest — we will gather your medical records, arrange expert evidence, and advise you on the merits of pursuing a claim.
Contact us today to discuss your concerns.
FAQs (Common Questions from Women Concerned About Their Treatment)
Q: I had a mastectomy — does that automatically mean I have a claim?
A: Not necessarily. A claim depends on whether the advice given to you about the decision for surgery, consent process, and / or reconstruction options was acceptable. If you are concerned about this, please feel free to contact us and we can discuss this with you.
Q: I accepted surgery at the time — can I still claim now?
A: Yes — if you were not properly informed of alternatives or risks, or if the care provided was unreasonable compared to NHS standards, you may still have grounds to claim.
Q: How much compensation could I receive?
A: It depends on many factors — the nature of the harm, your financial losses becuase of the negligence, any need for future care or treatment, the costs of reconstruction, and emotional/psychological impact.
We can only estimate the potential value of the claim after investigating your case.
Q: Is it worth going ahead if I am anxious or worried about reliving the trauma?
A: We understand this can be difficult, which is why you should consider whether you want to pursue a claim. Medical negligence claims can be long and they are difficult. We specialise in these claims and if you decide that you want to pursue a claim, we will support you every step of the way with compassion and discretion.
Why Read This Page — And Why Act
If you are concerned about breast cancer negligence, then you deserve to know whether your breast cancer treatment was safe and appropriate.
Mistakes in cancer treatment can have life-changing consequences — physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially.
Medical negligence claims can provide more than just financial compensation — they can support reconstruction, long-term care, therapy and peace of mind.
Holding institutions accountable protects future patients, and helps to drive improvements in breast cancer care.
Contact Us — Confidential Help Is Available
If you, or someone you love, has had breast cancer treatment at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust or any other hospital and have concerns about their care, please contact us today for free, confidential advice.
We are experienced medical negligence solicitors and we are here to help you understand your rights, investigate what went wrong — and fight for fairness, accountability and better care.
Quote from author. Gemma Lewis, Partner and Specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor from MDS, said "The recent news about the harm to almost 200 breast cancer patients at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is extremely worrying. It is traumatic enough to receive a cancer diagnosis without then later learning that something has gone wrong or that the advice given about treatment was not correct. I hope that the failings identified are not ignored and that changes are made to improve patient safety for people when they can be at their most vulnerable”.
