‘Systemic’ failings resulted in avoidable cancer harm

A decade-long pattern of “systemic” leadership and governance failures led to avoidable patient harm in a trust’s breast cancer service, a highly critical review has found.

The review of the service at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust found “sustained weakness” in the north east provider’s senior leadership and management team between 2012 and 2025.

It was commissioned after concerns were raised about unnecessary mastectomies, excessive surgery, late diagnosis and missed opportunities for treatment, predominantly at the University Hospital of North Durham.

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 25 November 2025