PLEA TO PATIENTS AS £300,000 BREAST SCREENING UNIT OPENS
Please show up, say medics after Covid sparks attendance fall
ONE of the largest community breast screening units in the UK has opened in North Staffordshire.
Women aged between 50 and 71 will be able to visit the mobile on the car park at Kidsgrove Health Centre.
They will be referred for a mammogram by their GP and can access the new unit if it is more convenient than attending the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
The unit has cost more than £300,000 and has been funded by NHS England and Improvement.
It includes the latest breast screening technology, built-in wi-fi, solar panels, a large open waiting area and two changing areas. Wheelchair access is also available.
Radiographers and assistant practitioners from University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust will be on hand to help.
Although breast screening was briefly halted due to the pandemic, the team started up again last summer. Due to Covid-19, there was also a drop in people attending for mammograms because some of them were shielding or concerned about catching the virus.
Now the team are encouraging anyone offered an appointment to take it up.
Health improvement practitioner Jessica Johnson said: “This brand new unit is an amazing asset to the community.
“Not only does it provide a service closer to home for some residents, but it allows us to reduce waiting times and the need to visit a hospital, which can be busy.
“It has been particularly challenging through the pandemic, with many members of the team being redeployed into other areas of the hospital while the breast screening service was suspended.
“However, we are now able to offer patients timely screening and encourage people to come forward if they are concerned about symptoms by contacting their GP initially.
“Each screening clinic is arranged to ensure social distancing is in place and there is no crossover of women in the waiting room.
“All infection prevention procedures required are followed and each room is cleaned after each appointment.”
■ If you are concerned that you have any of the signs of breast cancer, such as a lump, skin dimpling, lump under the armpit or anything that is unusual for you, you are advised to speak to your GP.