Private Breast Surgery Darlington

Symptoms relating to the breasts can have a range of causes, and not all of them will result in the need for invasive surgery. For example, breast cysts can be removed with a simple drainage procedure which can be done at your initial consultation. This usually requires no further attention.

Some breast pain may be caused by hormonal changes, in which case medication can be prescribed and picked up from our on-site pharmacy.

A cancer diagnosis normally leads to surgery to remove the cancer. However, surgery is also considered for benign lumps, which can be removed in one operation.

A wide range of surgeries are available at Woodlands Hospital, depending on your diagnosis, including:

• Lumpectomy (removing only the cancer)
• Mastectomy (removal of the whole breast)
• Mastectomy with reconstruction
• Axillary lymph node dissection surgery (removal of the lymph glands under the armpit if infected)

The recommended form of cancer surgery is normally decided within a multi-disciplinary team meeting. Your consultant can explain this recommendation, preparing you for surgery if you wish to go ahead with it.

Some of the common symptoms that may prompt you to come and see a breast specialist include:

• Breast pain
• Lump on the breast
• Changes in the shape of your breast
• Nipple discharge
• Inversion of the nipple

You may also appreciate some reassurance from a specialist due to a family history of breast cancer. We are happy to offer a full assessment at Woodlands Hospital.

Conditions and issues treated by our specialists include:

• Fibroadenoma (benign lumps)
• Lymph node infections
• Cysts

Your initial consultation at Woodlands will be based on getting a firm diagnosis promptly, and working out an appropriate treatment plan to treat or manage your condition.

When you come in for your first consultation with us, your consultant will take a thorough medical history. They will also ask about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, relevant risk factors, and any other issues you may have had in the past. They will likely want to know:

• How long have you have had these symptoms?
• Are you in pain? If so, can you describe it – is it a stabbing pain? Constant or intermittent?
• Has it got any worse recently?
• Have you had any previous breast problems?
• Have you received any treatment? Are you on any medication?
• Do you have a family history of breast cancer?

This will be followed by a clinical examination, typically paired with a mammogram to help with diagnosis. Occasionally you may also have an ultrasound scan of the breast, and depending on the availability of radiologists, this can sometimes be done within the initial consultation.

Potentially, if there is a legion or lump felt or seen, a biopsy (small tissue sample) will be taken and sent away for analysis. The biopsy tends to be done under ultrasound guidance, so again if a radiologist is available, this can all be done, saving you repeat journeys to Woodlands.

The vast majority of breast referrals to our specialists will be discharged on the day with no abnormality found.

If a lump is found and a biopsy taken, a follow-up appointment would be booked a week later to go through the biopsy results. Lumps can be benign (harmless) or cancerous, and these results will inform your treatment path.

An MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting will be arranged promptly if a cancer diagnosis is confirmed. This will help determine the recommended treatment, all of which is evidence-based according to your prognosis. Your consultant will then outline to you all available options, and you can decide how you would like to proceed.

Some surgery can be carried out on-site at Woodlands in our operating theatres. This would be supported by an expert theatre team of anaesthetists, radiologists and nursing staff to ensure you get the most streamlined, efficient service possible.

Choosing to have your breast surgery done at Woodlands Hospital comes with a host of benefits, such as: 

• Assessments ASAP – If you’ve noticed any concerning changes in your breasts and have come to the decision to seek medical attention, you won’t want to wait for an appointment. By seeing patients rapidly, our consultants can give you a thorough diagnosis and all the details you need in order to make an informed decision on whether or not this type of surgery is right for you.
• Patient satisfaction – 98.1% of patients in 2024 said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend their consultant to their friends or family. 96% also said that their overall experience of the nursing care was very good or excellent. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Day case procedures – For some non-cancerous conditions, such as breast cysts, a simple day case procedure to drain the cysts is all that is necessary to bring you relief from your symptoms.
• Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.
• Convenient appointments – With appointments available throughout the day Monday-Friday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability. 
• Park with ease – We know that parking should be the least of your worries when attending hospital, so our car park has ample space to accommodate your needs. This also includes 4 electric vehicle charging points. Alternatively, we are very close to Darlington Railway Station, should you wish to visit us by train. We are also a short walk from multiple bus stops, including Morton Park Way (Morrisons) and Yarm Road.

If you have noticed any changes in your breasts, please call our team today on 01325 968195 or book a consultation online. Our consultants can make a rapid diagnosis and outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any further treatment or surgery if required.

For peace of mind and expert care, book an appointment now.

Accessing private healthcare with us is easy, whether you choose to pay directly or use private medical insurance.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. There are usually only three steps to accessing private treatment using insurance:

• Speak to your GP: Let your GP know that you have private medical insurance during your appointment with them. Ask them to refer you to Woodlands Hospital, and in you have already chosen which consultant you would like to see, let your GP know their name so they can give you a specific referral letter. The letter should include the hospital and consultant name, as well as the recommended treatment. Your GP can also give you a referral letter with no specified consultant.
• Speak to us: Once you have your referral letter from your GP, give our friendly Patient Liaison Officers a call on 01325 341786. If your GP gets in touch with us directly with your referral, we will be in touch with you.
• Speak to your insurer: After speaking to your GP, ensure that you call your insurer and activate your insurance. Have your insurance details to hand when you call, as they will need it to confirm that the treatment you need is covered by our policy. If the treatment is not covered but you would still like to go private, you can explore alternative methods.

For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

Woodlands Hospital first opened in Darlington in 2001, and we have been treating patients from Darlington and the wider area ever since.

We are located on Morton Park Way, opposite Dunelm and Premier Inn and over the road from Morrisons. Darlington Train Station is approximately 3.5 miles away and there is a taxi rank at the station with cabs available throughout the day. We are also a short walk from numerous bus routes, with stops at Morrisons and on Yarm Road. We are a short distance from local attractions such as Hopetown, the brick train sculpture and the Hippodrome.

We have free parking available on-site, with 4 electric vehicle charging points. The hospital has an accessible entrance, however please do let a member of the team know if you require a wheelchair and one of our friendly porters can assist you into the building.

Each of our rooms feature an en-suite for added comfort and privacy. The rooms are spacious with a remote controlled TV and free Wi-Fi available during your stay. Our catering team are on-hand to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular mealtimes. We offer a range of choices available, please do let us know of any special dietary requirements you have prior to your admission.

As well as offering surgery, we have a number of fantastic facilities on-site at Woodlands.

Our physiotherapy department consists of many experienced senior physiotherapists with a range of clinical interests including hand, women's health and men's health. We also have a fully equipped gymnasium, including an anti-gravity treadmill, exercise bike and numerous weights. The team will work closely with you to reach your goals, and you can self refer to book an appointment. If you're interested, please give the team a call on 01325 341712 and choose option 2.

We also have imaging facilities on-site, including a wide-bore MRI scanner, x-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and access to a CT scanner. Please note: appointments for any imaging service at Woodlands Hospital can only be made once the department receives a referral from a GMC-registered consultant. For more information, please give our friendly enquiry team a call on 01325 968 195.