Norwich Hospital Apologizes for Breast Surgery Incident

A hospital has apologised to a cancer survivor after she was left feeling 'completely let down' following a 'botched' breast reconstruction surgery. Catherine Jewers, 51, from Norwich, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 before finding a lump in her other breast in 2023. Following planned reconstruction surgery in February 2024, at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), she said her surgeons 'basically ignored their consultation' and completed a different operation to the one she consented to. Dr Bernard Brett, medical director at the NNUH, said: 'Ms Jewers has clearly been through a very difficult time and we apologise for our contribution to this.'

After being diagnosed with cancer in her right breast in 2010, the former health assistant underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was given the all-clear and underwent reconstruction surgery at the NNUH in 2011. However, in 2023, she found a cancerous lump in her left breast, leading to four months of chemotherapy. She was advised to have a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery involving skin and muscle from each leg being stitched together to make a new breast.

Following the surgery, she said she was left with 'no resemblance at all to a breast', adding the skin from her breast was still there and a mastectomy had 'not been fully completed'. Ms Jewers claimed the surgery was 'completely botched'. She said: 'People don't realise that when you have breast cancer, the only silver lining for most people is having your reconstruction... and this has been my darkest day.' While she was in hospital, she said her surgeons did not visit her to discuss the operation and she only had a consultation six weeks later. 'This has ruined my life in so many ways, not just physically, but also the mental and emotional damage this has done,' she added.

In 2024 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the hospital was the worst in the East of England for ambulance handover times and waits; between referral and treatment and for cancer treatment waiting times. At the time of the inspection it said regarding cancer waiting times the trust was performing poorly nationally and regionally and was highlighted as one of 15 most challenged organisations nationally for cancer recovery. In 2023, the trust was the second worst performing trust in the country for patients waiting 62 days for their first treatment. Dr Brett said: 'Our records and review show that the high complexity of the procedure was explained at the time and the options for planned reconstruction surgery. To undertake a mastectomy and reconstruction on a patient who has previously had breast cancer and to avoid any risk to patient, there was a need to revise the plan and stop the surgery after eight hours in theatre... any further surgical time would have been a risk to the patient. We have apologised to Ms Jewers for her experience on the ward while she was recovering from surgery and we recognise there was a lack of communication and reassurance regarding certain aspects of her care and treatment.'

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