State of the art mobile mammogram screening unit officially opens to the public
Despite torrential rain on Wednesday (21 October), The Countess Howe, DStJ, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, officially unveiled a new, state-of-the-art mobile breast screening unit for South Buckinghamshire that will serve patients from across the county.
The launch ceremony, held at the Wades Centre, Princes Risborough, drew an enthusiastic crowd - all braving the weather to celebrate the opening, including campaign donors, people who shared their breast cancer experiences, supporters who raised funds in memory of loved ones, and those who took on individual challenges such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
At the event, Countess Howe, Patron of Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity, and Andrew Mclaren, Chief Medical Officer at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, emphasised the importance of screening and early detection before The Countess cut the ribbon (if a little wet) to officially open the unit and welcome patients.
After the ribbon-cutting, guests toured the unit and viewed its specialist equipment, while the breast screening team answered questions and explained how easy it is to use and how quickly it can deliver results to patients.
Guests were also invited to view ‘Circles of Support’, a colourful artwork displaying the names of appeal contributors.
Attendees included Dr Rosie Browning, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust’s Director of Breast Screening at Wycombe Hospital; Joan Butt, Deputy Clinical Lead for Breast Imaging; Wendy Brazier, Service Manager Breast Imaging; and Nicola Gilham, Chair of Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity.
The new unit resulted from a successful fundraising appeal led by Scannappeal and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Charitable Funds, which raised more than £400,000 thanks to local support and backing from ITV’s Lorraine Kelly, a local resident.
The two charities have since united to create Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity, strengthening their support for healthcare across the county.
Commenting at the opening, Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity Chief Executive Officer, Karen Shardlow, said: “When we launched this appeal, Scannappeal and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Funds were two separate charities, working towards a shared ambition. Today, those two charities have come together as one — Buckinghamshire Healthcare Charity — and I think this unit is a wonderful example of what that shared purpose is all about. Bringing people together, working alongside our NHS colleagues and our communities, and turning charitable support into something that will make a tangible difference to patient care.”
She added: “On behalf of everyone involved, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all who donated, offered support or volunteered to help make this new unit a reality.”
Patients across South Bucks, including those in Princes Risborough, Stokenchurch, Prestwood, Chesham, Amersham, Chalfont St Peter, Marlow, Gerrards Cross, and Denham, will benefit from having screening appointments closer to home, without needing to travel to hospital.
"The unit will enable us to take mammography screening directly into the community, significantly enhancing our service by improving accessibility for local patients. Earlier detection of breast cancer gives patients the best possible chance of a positive outcome,” explained Dr Vaishali Gada, Consultant Radiologist, Wycombe Hospital.
The specialist unit will now be housed at the Wades Centre for three months before moving to Prestwood.
For more information, please visit: https://scannappeal.org.uk/.