(GEH Press release)
Local MP, Craig Tracey joined staff and patients at the opening of George Eliot Hospital’s new mammogram machine on Tuesday, 14th August.
The Breast Care Team celebrated with a ‘pink day’ to showcase their new state-of-the-art facilities which will improve both patient experience and the efficiency of the service for local people.
The new equipment, a Siemens Inspiration, will help the unit deliver their breast screening service as well as screen symptomatic patients and improve the diagnosis of patients with suspected breast cancer. The machine provides high quality images, faster processing and detailed tomography which will provide faster diagnostics and a more reliable service. Calming mood lighting also helps to provide a more relaxed atmosphere for patients.
About 1 in 8 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If it's detected early, treatment is more successful and there's a good chance of recovery.
Breast screening aims to find breast cancers early and a mammogram can help to spot cancers when they're too small to see or feel. The hospital conducts more than 11000 mammograms each year and hopes to expand the service further within the community.
The new mammogram machine was officially opened by North Warwickshire, MP Craig Tracey, who is Co-Chair of the Cross Party Parliamentary Group for Breast Cancer.
Mr Tracey said: "I work closely with Breast Cancer Charities in Parliament and have met some of the bravest and most inspiring patients who sadly suffer from this dreadful disease. I am really encouraged that our local Hospital the George Eliot has a new Mammogram machine. This is a significant step and will help to detect possible cancers sooner, which as we have seen will make a huge difference to patients."
During the six weeks installation project which was delivered on time staff at UHCW supported the hospital by providing breast screening services for George Eliot patients.
Mr Kishore Makam, clinical lead for Breast Care said: “I’m proud of the hard work by everyone involved and would like to thank our own breast care and radiography teams for making the project such a success.
“I would also like to convey my thanks on behalf of the patients and my team for all the hard work carried out by the radiology team and radiographers at UHCW who supported the service during the installation. They went above and beyond to support our local service for patients.
“Finally, I would like to thank our extremely patient patients during this temporary disruption to our breast screening service at the George Eliot Hospital.”
Debbie Pook, Executive Director for Operations at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust said: “The new Mammogram machine will be a fantastic service for our patients and our staff and we are thrilled that the new equipment is already proving to be a great success.
“This equipment was funded through our capital funding programme at the hospital and this is another exciting example of our ongoing investment in local services to the community of Nuneaton, Bedworth, North Warwickshire and surrounding areas.
For more information about the services available at George Eliot Hospital visit www.geh.nhs.uk