Breast cancer claims at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

What has happened at the Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service?

Women across County Durham have shared devastating experiences of poor care at the Durham and Darlington 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 now under investigation following an independent report by the Royal College of Surgeons, which raised serious concerns about cases dating back to at least 2019.

How many women could have been affected by breast cancer negligence at Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service?

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that hundreds of cases are currently being reviewed. However, with the investigation continuing to develop, this could ultimately involve thousands of women treated by the Breast Cancer Service. No timescale has been given for how long the investigation will last, leaving many women facing an agonising wait for answers.

The impact of breast cancer negligence on women and families

At Slater and Gordon, we have seen a surge in enquiries from women concerned about the care they received. Many have described the devastating impact on their lives, with complaints of an impersonal approach and a lack of compassion from medics during an already traumatic time.

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 in Durham, where women and families attended in significant numbers to speak with our specialist clinical negligence lawyers and understand their legal options.

What to do if you’ve been affected by medical negligence at Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer service

If you or a loved one received care from the Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service and are concerned about the treatment you received, contact Slater and Gordon today. Our specialist clinical negligence team can provide free, confidential advice and help you understand your legal options.

Chloe Gibson, one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors representing several affected women, said:

“The scale of this investigation is vast and will no doubt involve hundreds – if not thousands – of women. This is a hugely concerning issue for the region, particularly for those who relied on this service for their care.

"Women coming to us have suffered greatly. Their cases are devastating and life changing. At a time when they were already coping with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, to then experience such poor standards of care is truly horrific and absolutely unacceptable.

"We will work tirelessly to help these women find answers and accountability for what went so wrong.”

Why choose Slater and Gordon?

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 clients across the UK in dealing with the consequences of negligent cancer treatment, from misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis to unnecessary surgeries and procedures.

• We are ranked in the independent legal directory Chambers and Partners and in the Legal 500, showcasing our dedication to providing outstanding family law 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.