Shout Out! NHS Breast Screening
Invitations for screening are sent automatically to women up until their 71st birthday.
Women aged 71 or over can contact their breast screening unit to make an appointment every 3 years.
Women with breast symptoms should see their GP.
The service can be found in hospital clinics or mobile units and are part of the national NHS Breast Screening Programme.
Breast screening
Breast screening is performed by mammographers, female health specialists who are typically registered radiographers or mammography assistant practitioners.
They operate the X-ray machine to take mammograms of each breast, a process that involves squeezing the breast between two plates to get a clear image.
Doreen's story
Healthwatch heard from a local woman, Doreen about her experience of the service.
Doreen told Healthwatch that she received an invitation, date and time for her routine mammogram at one of the local mobile units.
When she arrived at the mobile unit and she was greeted by a friendly receptionist who asked her a few questions such as her name, date of birth and address.
After a very short time the radiographer called her in to be scanned.
After the mammograms were taken, she was told that she would be informed of the result by letter about 2 weeks later.
Within ten days she received an all-clear letter.
The whole process was completed by friendly, and professional staff, who took time to explain what they were doing and made her feel comfortable and relaxed.
The process took about 15 minutes.
