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Thieves hit Castleford breast screen service
VITAL SERVICE: A consultant analyses a mammogram, checking for breast cancer.
Metal thieves who targeted a Castleford health centre have forced women to travel miles to undergo potentially life-saving breast screenings.
Now health watchdogs at Wakefield Council are calling for answers as to why a permanent home still has not been found for the only breast screening service in the Five Towns.
The mobile breast screening services were relocated from the Riverside Medical Centre in Castleford last autumn after a string of attacks by would-be thieves.
That has led to patients having to travel to Leeds to be screened.
And worried council officials fear some patients may not attend appointments that could detect serious problems, including breast cancer, early.
A report to the council’s Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee says: “In the autumn of last year, breast screening services were removed from the Riverside Medical Centre in Castleford because of vandalism. Alternative sites have been explored but to date a permanent solution has not been identified.”
It adds: “Local members have expressed their concerns at the delay in resolving this matter, with many local women having to travel much further afield to undergo screening.
“This will inconvenience many women, will be more costly and difficult for others and may even deter some from having the screening done.”
Dr Andrew Furber, director of public health for NHS Wakefield District, said: “Positive meetings with local councillors, MPs, local police, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the people of Castleford, identified 10 potential sites in the Castleford area for the screening service.
“The final decision will be based on specific criteria such as access to services, safety of the mobile unit, and the practical issue of locating an 11-metre-long unit requiring access to water and electricity. The final decision will be made in the next two weeks. We aim to have the service back up and running by May 2012.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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