Breast cancer and mental health boost in big week for Macclesfield's NHS
It has been a bumper week for healthcare in Macclesfield.
There's been two new opening ceremonies for departments across East Cheshire NHS Trust.
It comes just days after doctors, nurses and more celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
On Thursday, staff from East Cheshire NHS Trust formally opened a new mobile breast screening unit.
The van will be able to detect breast cancer better than ever. The project came to be after the government pledged an additional £10 million to provide 29 new NHS mobile breast cancer screening units to areas where they are most needed.
The new purpose-built unit has been designed with lift access to provide accessibility to patients with walking difficulties. There will also be specific clinics available for wheelchair users which will allow additional time.
The van will provide approx. 50 breast screening appointments daily, improving outcomes for patients, tackling health disparities and improving diagnosis rates. This investment will also help deliver a more accessible NHS where patients can receive care closer to home.
John Dillon, Head of Diagnostics at East Cheshire NHS Trust said, "The Cheshire and Stockport Breast Screening Service is part of the National Breast Screening Programme and is run by East Cheshire NHS Trust. It provides a breast screening service for all women across East Cheshire, Mid Cheshire and Stockport aged 50 up to their 71st birthday.
"The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem.
"This fantastic investment into a new screening van will lead to an increase in early detection of breast cancer, which often results in simpler and more successful treatment."
Breast screening services are delivered at Macclesfield Hospital, Leighton Hospital and via the new mobile screening van. The van is currently located at Bramhall Health Centre and will travel to local communities. Women will receive an invitation with the time, date and location of their appointment from their GP every three years during the age of 50 – 71.
Also new at Victoria Road's Macclesfield Hospital is a new mental health ward for those facing serious mental health challenges.
While it opened just before COVID, and has been running ever since, an informal second opening ceremony took place the other day with the company of Macclesfield MP David Rutley.
Based at Lime Walk area of the Hospital, Mulberry Ward, the new ward is part of a £4.5 million investment programme to modernise facilities and improve local mental health services. Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, who deliver mental health care in Macclesfield, have provided 26 mixed gender beds in the new ward with en-suite bathrooms and a garden.
Tim Welch, Chief Executive of CWP said "It was great to welcome David to Mulberry Ward for the first time so that he could see the excellent work being done in the Macclesfield constituency to support people with mental health issues.
It is important for us to share more about the amazing and compassionate work our teams do here and continue to break-down stigma. Once admitted to our care, our teams work in a person-centred way focussing on safety and rehabilitation – all whilst keeping what is important to the individual person and their family at the heart.
A big thank you to David for helping to celebrate Megan and Leanne's 'Going the Extra Mile Award'. CWP is built on the care, dedication and professionalism of our staff and it was great to share this moment together."
Speaking after the meeting David said "Having actively campaigned to ensure Macclesfield retained its mental health wards, I am very pleased to see the new Mulberry Ward up and running. The dedicated work of all staff, in an often challenging environment, to ensure that local adults experiencing mental health challenges can continue to receive the treatment that they need, is to be highly praised."
See Also: Macclesfield's Nick Robinson to help men 'Find The Words' to talk about cancer
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