Surgery is usually the main treatment for breast cancer. Depending on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread, you may have only the cancer removed (breast-conserving surgery) or the whole breast removed (mastectomy). Other treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted medicines.
The National Audit of Primary Breast Cancer publishes results for each NHS trust. One measure is how often women need a further operation after breast-conserving surgery, for example because some cancer cells were found at the edge of the tissue removed.
Hospitals in the South West
12 trusts in the South West with published figures. Sorted by name. This is not a ranking: read how to read this first.
| Trust | Volume bandWomen having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri) | Key outcomeFurther operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted) | Waiting timeWhole trust | Patient experience | CQC rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Dorset County Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital | Fewer than 600577 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 9.1%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 62.2%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Dorset County Hospital: Good (CQC report for Dorset County Hospital) Royal Bournemouth Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Bournemouth Hospital) |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Cheltenham General Hospital, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Stroud General Hospital, Stroud Maternity Hospital, Tetbury Hospital, Tewkesbury Hospital | 1,500 or more1,646 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 21.3%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 69.9%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.5 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Cheltenham General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Cheltenham General Hospital) Gloucestershire Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Gloucestershire Royal Hospital) Stroud Maternity Hospital: Good (CQC report for Stroud Maternity Hospital) |
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Great Western Hospital | 600 to 999955 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 17.3%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 65%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Great Western Hospital) |
| North Bristol NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Southmead HospitalPublished for North Bristol NHS Trust, which ran Southmead Hospital until the trust closed in June 2026. Southmead is now part of another trust, so its later figures will be published under that trust. | 1,500 or more2,127 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 15.0%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 61.4%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | No rating |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Cornwall Hospital, St Michael’s Hospital, West Cornwall Hospital | 1,000 to 1,4991,061 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 12.8%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 58.8%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Royal Cornwall Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Cornwall Hospital) St Michael's Hospital: Good (CQC report for St Michael's Hospital) West Cornwall Hospital: Good (CQC report for West Cornwall Hospital) |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Axminster Hospital, Crediton Hospital, Exmouth Hospital, Honiton Hospital, Mardon Neuro-rehabilitation Centre, Nightingale Hospital Exeter, North Devon District Hospital, Ottery St Mary Hospital, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Tiverton District Hospital, Victoria Hospital Sidmouth | 1,000 to 1,4991,433 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 23.1%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 71%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Honiton Hospital: Good (CQC report for Honiton Hospital) Mardon Neuro-rehabilitation Centre: Good (CQC report for Mardon Neuro-rehabilitation Centre) Nightingale Hospital Exeter: Good (CQC report for Nightingale Hospital Exeter) North Devon District Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for North Devon District Hospital) Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Wonford: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Wonford) Tiverton District Hospital: Good (CQC report for Tiverton District Hospital) |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal United Hospital Bath | 600 to 999902 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 15.3%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 81.8%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.5 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal United Hospital Bath) |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Salisbury District Hospital | Fewer than 600495 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 19.7%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 87.1%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Salisbury District Hospital) |
| Somerset NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Musgrove Park Hospital, Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital, Yeovil District Hospital | 1,000 to 1,4991,363 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 18.2%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 80.9%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Musgrove Park Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Musgrove Park Hospital) Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital: Good (CQC report for Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital) Yeovil District Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Yeovil District Hospital) |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Hospital, Brixham Hospital, Dawlish Hospital, Newton Abbot Hospital, Paignton Hospital, Teignmouth Hospital, Torbay Hospital, Totnes Hospital | 600 to 999688 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 25.2%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 86%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Torbay Hospital) |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Christchurch Hospital, Poole Hospital | 1,000 to 1,4991,422 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 18.3%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 64.3%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Christchurch Hospital: Good (CQC report for Christchurch Hospital) Poole Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Poole Hospital) |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Derriford Hospital, Mount Gould Hospital, Tavistock Hospital | 1,000 to 1,4991,153 women who had surgery for early breast cancer, 2021 to 2023 (3 years) | 10.7%National: 16.2% (unadjusted)No banding publishedMore measures
| 58%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 69.6%), June to August 2026, provisional | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Derriford Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Derriford Hospital) Mount Gould Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Mount Gould Hospital) |
How to read this
- Not a ranking. The table is in alphabetical order. A higher volume does not on its own mean better care, and we do not combine the columns into a score.
- Volume bands. Cut points are the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of all 115 NHS trusts in the NAoPri table in the published table, rounded. So about a quarter of NHS trusts in the NAoPri table fall in each band. The exact number is shown under the band.
- Risk adjustment. Where a figure says “adjusted”, the audit has allowed for differences in the patients each hospital treats, such as age and other illnesses. Hospitals that take on more complex cases can still look different for reasons the adjustment does not capture.
- Bands and limits. We only say a result is higher or lower than expected when the source itself says so (for example NJR outlier status, NELA funnel limits, SSNAP levels, CQC survey bands). Where the source publishes a rate without limits we show the rate and the national figure, and say “No banding published”.
- Small numbers. A small hospital can have 0% or a high percentage by chance. Figures the source suppresses are shown as “Not published (small numbers)”.
- Trust or hospital. This audit publishes figures for each NHS trust, which may run several hospitals. The operation may only be done at one of them.
- Different periods. Each figure has its own period, shown next to it. Audit results describe operations done one to three years ago; waiting times are updated monthly.
- National figures. National figures are England (unadjusted), from the NAoPri data tables.
- Talk to your GP or consultant about what the figures mean for you. If you are referred for planned care in England, you can usually choose your hospital.
Full definitions: methodology and data dictionary.
Data sources and licences
- National Audit of Primary Breast Cancer (NAoPri) State of the Nation 2026 data tables, NATCAN for HQIP. Source: National Audit of Primary Breast Cancer (NAoPri), NATCAN / HQIP, 2026, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
- Cancer Waiting Times (provider extract), NHS England. Source: NHS England, Cancer Waiting Times. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 (trust benchmark results), Care Quality Commission. Source: Care Quality Commission, NHS Patient Survey Programme, Adult Inpatient Survey 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC ratings, Care Quality Commission. CQC ratings: Care Quality Commission. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Healthcare-associated infections: annual counts and rates by trust (financial year 2025 to 2026), UK Health Security Agency. Source: UK Health Security Agency, healthcare-associated infection annual data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
Data last updated 26 October 2026. We do not change the published figures; we only group volumes into bands. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Sources
We checked this guide against these official pages on 26 October 2026.
- Treatment for breast cancer in women (NHS website)
- National Audit of Primary Breast Cancer (NATCAN)
- Cancer Waiting Times (NHS England)
- Adult inpatient survey (Care Quality Commission)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us.