Breast screening team welcomes back patients

The Gateshead Breast Screening Unit will resume its vital services from Monday 10th August.

There will be some changes as their mobile units in Durham and Jarrow are currently closed due to refurbishment to comply with COVID restrictions. You will be offered an alternative venue, however, if this is inconvenient, please contact the Breast Screening Service on 0191 445 2554 to re – arrange to a different venue or to postpone your appointment until your local venue is in service. This will also allow them to offer the appointment to someone else.

All the necessary safety precautions to minimise the risk of COVID transmission have been put in place for screening appointments, and staff are urging women to attend.

Their screening locations across the North East will have longer appointment times, social distancing in place, additional cleaning of equipment between each appointment, protective equipment for staff (masks, gloves and aprons), and hand sanitiser.

They will also require anyone attending appointments to wear a mask – They will be provided for anyone who arrives without one.

They'll be working as hard as they can to catch up. Appointment letters will be sent automatically and they're contacting everyone who would have expected to have been invited for a mammogram.

They are asking that people attend alone and do not arrive until their appointment time. If a patient needs assistance from a carer or family member, this will be restricted to one person.

Pre-appointment visits to the units can be arranged for service users who require extra support by request.

Anyone with queries or questions, can contact the Breast Screening Service on: 0191 445 2554 or go to their website