Pennine Breast Screening Service has put their office on wheels to make their service as accessible and convenient as possible.
Every three years, women aged between 50 and 70 are invited for a breast screening, also known as a mammogram.
Screening can help to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, which helps to save lives. Eligible women are encouraged to attend a screening even if they are healthy with no symptoms.
Office on wheels
The breast screening van will be in Ravensthorpe Retail Park and then Dewsbury Hospital from late-Spring into Summer.
Eligible women will receive a letter in the post inviting them to arrange a visit to the breast screening service.
All women are encouraged to book their visit as soon as they receive their invitation.
Appointments & COVID-19
Breast cancer screening is still going ahead in the UK but has experienced slight delays due to COVID-19.
Appointments have been adapted to follow strict guidelines to keep you and the service providers safe. Changes mean that you can’t take someone with you to your appointment and results may be slightly delayed.
Patient and Pennine Breast Screening mammographer on the specialist screening van.
An essential check-up
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health, said: “It’s brilliant to see healthcare services adapting to make really important check-ups, like breast screening, easier for women in Kirklees.
“One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, but survival rates are very high when it’s detected early. Screening finds changes in our bodies that could turn into cancer, even before we could spot them ourselves.
“If you’ve been invited for your breast screening, visit the team at Pennine – they are very friendly and can answer any questions you might have. And if you know any women between 50 and 70, ask them if they’ve been for their screening and share Pennine’s video with them too if you can.”
“Don’t hesitate to get in touch”
Julie Hodgins, Health Promotion Specialist at Pennine Breast Screening Service, said: “Around eighty per cent of women book again after they’ve been once. However, we have seen an especially low uptake in younger women this year – those aged 50-53 who are being invited for their first time.
“We want women to know that the facility is COVID-safe and that the procedure itself is quick and easy. We’ve created a video to show our new ways of working during COVID and what women can expect when they come to see us.
“Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. If you’ve just received your letter, we look forward to greeting you soon.”
Usually, the procedure only takes a few minutes. However, patients should allow for half an hour in total. Pennine Screening advises women to wear a top and a bottom. This way you will only need to remove a top half.
If you have concerns about accessibility and the steps to the screening van, let the office at Pennine Screening know beforehand so they can arrange a solution for you.
To book an appointment, you can refer to your invitation letter. For general enquiries or to arrange Women’s Health events, you can either email Bth.penninehp@nhs.net or call 07966133267.
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