East Cheshire NHS Trust welcomes new mobile breast screening unit

Staff from East Cheshire NHS Trust have welcomed the arrival of a brand-new mobile breast screening unit after the government pledged an additional £10 million to provide 29 new NHS mobile breast cancer screening units to areas where they are most needed.

The new purpose-built unit has been designed with lift access to provide accessibility to patients with walking difficulties. There will also be specific clinics available for wheelchair users which will allow additional time.

The van will provide approx. 50 breast screening appointments daily, improving outcomes for patients, tackling health disparities and improving diagnosis rates. This investment will also help deliver a more accessible NHS where patients can receive care closer to home.

Pictured below centre with colleagues, John Dillon, Head of Diagnostics at East Cheshire NHS Trust said:

“The Cheshire and Stockport Breast Screening Service is part of the National Breast Screening Programme and is run by East Cheshire NHS Trust. It provides a breast screening service for all women across East Cheshire, Mid Cheshire and Stockport aged 50 up to their 71st birthday.

“The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem.

“This fantastic investment into a new screening van will lead to an increase in early detection of breast cancer, which often results in simpler and more successful treatment.”

Breast screening services are delivered at Macclesfield Hospital, Leighton Hospital and via the new mobile screening van. The van is currently located at Bramhall Health Centre and will travel to local communities including Brinnington, Marple, Romiley and Shaw Heath. Women will receive an invitation with the time, date and location of their appointment from their GP every three years during the age of 50 – 71.  

Scientific evidence shows that regular breast screening, between the ages of 50-70 years, can reduce the death rate from breast cancer. Currently, the NHS Breast screening programme saves an estimated 1400 lives each year in England.

The commitment to provide additional breast screening units was made in the Women’s Health Strategy published in July 2022 which is designed to improve equality of healthcare.  

The government has also committed to improving diagnosis, treatment and survival rates as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. By 2028, the government has committed to 75% of people with cancer being diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, up from 55% and for 55,000 more people each year to survive their cancer for at least five years after diagnosis. 

Each year more than two million women have breast cancer screening in the UK. Screening saves around 1,300 women every year with around 21,000 cancers detected. This investment in breast screening units will continue to increase capacity to detect and deliver life-saving treatment.