Hi-tech breast screening unit opens

The unit, on floor C of the hospital, has three digital mammography units and replaces the previous breast screening unit in Northumberland Road.

The superintendent radiographer and breast screening programme manager at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust, Cathy Jones, said: “The women of Sheffield will benefit greatly from having a bright new modern unit at the forefront of digital imaging technology. Its new home will be adjacent to the breast assessment unit which will help the service as whole to be more effective.”

Dr Christine Ingram, director of breast screening at the trust, said digital mammography has been shown to increase cancer detection rates, especially in younger women.

She added: “As well as going digital, we have an additional machine which will increase our capacity to cope with the future extension of breast screening down to the age of 47 and up to 73.”

The move marks the first phase of the trust’s plan to move all breast services into one location.