Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) has launched a new cutting-edge breast screening service designed to give patients faster answers and improve early breast cancer detection.
The South Lancashire Breast Screening unit, based at the Thomas Linacre Centre, Wigan, is one of the first NHS departments in Greater Manchester to introduce Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) technology to deliver quicker diagnostics, supporting a better overall patient experience, while improving waiting times.
Grace Easton, Clinical Lead, said: “Contrast Enhanced Mammography is a major advancement on the standard 2D mammography for cancer detection, particularly in patients who have dense breast tissue. The introduction of CEM means patients presenting with symptoms of breast cancer can have a contrast scan on the very same day as their imaging investigations. This improves the overall patient experience, removing weeks of agonising uncertainty and giving people a definitive diagnosis far quicker.”
Previously, contrast breast imaging required an MRI scan, which sometimes involved lengthy waits during appointments. With the new equipment, a CEM can be carried out in less than 10 minutes, meaning patients no longer face potential delays and the emotional stress that accompanies them.
Dr Amruta Talwalkar, Director of Breast Screening, said: “Coming in for a breast screening assessment is understandably a stressful experience. Having this new equipment enables us to share with our patients whether there is cause for concern almost immediately. Giving patients fast, accurate answers when they need them most is at the heart of what we do.”
Work on this project has been made possible thanks to a donation of almost £60,000 from the Boot Out Breast Cancer charity, which went towards the Contrast Mammography software and a contrast injector.
Debbie Dowie, founder of the charity, said: “It means a great deal to us at Boot Out Breast Cancer to be able to support the introduction of contrast mammography with the department. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are absolutely vital in improving outcomes for patients, and investing in advanced technology like this can make a real, life-saving difference.
“As a charity, our mission is to fund equipment and initiatives that directly enhance patient care, and we are incredibly proud to have contributed towards this important development. Knowing that this technology will support clinicians and benefit so many individuals and families is exactly why we do what we do.”
This initiative forms part of WWL’s wider strategy to embed innovative technology across its services to transform patient care.