Braintree: Calls to find site for mobile breast screening unit (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree: Calls to find site for mobile breast screening unit

3:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News

Calls are being made to find a site for a breast cancer screening unit for women in Braintree.

The NHS breast screening service had hoped to extend its screening programme to those aged between 47 and 73 by January, but is currently being frustrated.

The service has taken delivery of three mobile screening units, but has so far been unable to find a suitable location in the Braintree area.

Women will currently have to travel to Colchester and Chelmsford for screening, and any delays are likely to cause a backlog and longer waits.

Monica Dale, radiographer with the Chelmsford and Colchester NHS Breast Screening Service.said: “We place these units in accessible places like outside health centres, supermarkets and leisure centres.

“We’ve talked to various potential sites and have spoken to Braintree District Council but, so far, without success.

“Unless we can find a venue to accommodate a unit for a year in the town or on its outskirts, women may have to travel 10 miles or so to Broomfield Hospital or elsewhere for screening, which is something we are keen to avoid.”

A total of 11,925 women from Braintree and the surrounding area are due to be invited for screening.

In the meantime, women are being encouraged to accept invitations for screening at a mobile unit in Weavers Court, Halstead, starting on October 22.

Joanne Beavis, Braintree Council cabinet member for people, said: “We understand the NHS Breast Screening Service wishes to locate to Braintree at a future date and we will certainly work to assist them in finding a suitable location to ensure more women in the district are able to gain easy access to these important health checks.”

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