The Breast Centre at the Great Western Hospital hosts Wiltshire Breast Screening Service and provides a symptomatic clinic service, for women who are referred by their GP for breast problems.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wiltshire breast screening

We have restarted routine breast screening in Wiltshire in our mobile screening units.

Those patients under increased surveillance have continued to be offered appointments.

We have worked hard to put in place enhanced infection control measures, and appointments are now longer to facilitate social distancing as much as possible.

In order to maximise the appointments available, letters will be sent out inviting women to make an appointment.

COVID-19 and your appointment

We are taking all the necessary precautions as a service; the staff who will perform your mammogram will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including a mask, gloves, goggles and an apron.

To assist in keeping you, us, and other patients attending as safe as possible, we ask that:

  • If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, such as a temperature above 37.8 degrees C, new loss of taste or smell, or a new continuous cough, or are unwell in any way, or you have been contacted by Track and Trace or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, please do not attend your appointment but contact the Breast Centre to rearrange it for when you are feeling better.
  • We will require you to wear a face covering to your appointment, due to the proximity between you and the mammographer.
  • Please attend the screening unit for your appointment alone; if anyone travels with you, they should stat in the car.
  • If you need a carer to accompany you for your appointment, please contact the Breast Centre in advance to arrange with the team.
  • Please do not arrive for your appointment more than five minutes before your allocated time.
  • If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, please be aware we may need to re-book you for another day.

Thank you for your cooperation.

If you would like to discuss anything further please contact the Breast Centre.

GP Symptomatic Breast Service continuing

If you have any changes in your breasts or symptoms that are causing you concern please contact your GP and you will be referred to our symptomatic breast service in the normal way.

Symptomatic Clinic

If you have any symptoms or are worried about your breasts in any way, please immediately contact your GP and they may be able to reassure you.

They may feel that it is necessary to refer you to our breast clinic for some tests and a consultation.

At the clinic, you will see the consultant, who will take your history and discuss your concerns with you.

You will be given a breast examination and, if necessary, a mammogram and an ultrasound.

It may be possible to give a diagnosis at this appointment, but if a needle test (biopsy) is required then you will be given another appointment to return to the department for the results.

Breast screening

The NHS Breast screening service provides free breast screening every three years to women aged 50-70 years old.

Wiltshire Breast Screening is based at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and serves the women of screening age living in Wiltshire who are registered with a GP north of the A303.

Our area covers Marlborough and Ludgershall in the east; Warminster and Westbury in the south; Bradford-on-Avon and Corsham in the west; and Malmesbury and Swindon (including Highworth, and surrounding villages) in the north (please see Locations below).

The Wiltshire Breast Screening services invite approximately 32,000 women to be screened each year of those approximately 25,000 women per year attend.

This is approximately 75% of all those who are invited.

Locations

Great Western Hospital - ground floor (near the west entrance) please see Floor plans.

Screening is also carried out at various other locations - please see Wiltshire breast screening locations.

Contact

General enquiries

Email: whc.wilts.bss@nhs.net
Tel: 01793 604036
Fax: 01793 604240

Breast care nurses

Tel: 01793 604340