Update from the Breast Screening Team
Rebecca Corbett, the Quality & Improvement Manager West, East Sussex, Brighton & Hove has written her feedback following on from our Exploring Low Uptake for Breast Screening in West Sussex Report.
"'West Sussex Breast Screening thanks Healthwatch who in collaboration with partners completed a survey in West Sussex to explore the barriers to attend breast screening. Firstly we would like to thank Healthwatch and the public for taking the time to create and complete this survey. The survey had a wide variety of responses which will support the unit with improvements and work towards reducing health inequalities in West Sussex. We would like to share some of the work that is being undertaken."
The top reasons for not attending with actions from the service:
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Personal or work commitments - The service will work with key stakeholders to create awareness with employers to highlight the importance of Breast Screening. The service will review working hours to see if it is possible to have a later opening to create more flexibility depending on funding agreement with NHS England and staffing numbers.
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Fear and embarrassment - We will share more photos, videos and processes for screening on our Facebook site Facebook to create awareness about what to expect when you attend. We are currently working with the NHS Sussex Cancer Interface Manager, Mark Hannigan who is kindly supporting the service by asking the graphic design team to create an inclusive Breast Screening awareness poster, which we would like to share with key stakeholders and local businesses in areas we are due to screen.
- Lack of online booking - This is sadly outside of our service control but we have been raising the importance of live online booking with our systems provider. The systems provider is due to update the system but due to funding this might be in the future rather than an immediate action. We will continue to raise the importance of patient access via a live online booking system for Breast Screening.
The mobile units are up for renewal, we are looking at locations and what we can offer the public we serve to deliver more accessible sites. Patients with physical disabilities that cannot climb up and down the mobile unit stairs unaided are offered a Screening appointment but this is at Worthing Hospital, we recognise that for some patients this is a considerable distance to travel and the cost incurred with travelling. This work is currently in progress so we hope to share some updates shortly.
It is also important to highlight that 20%, 98 responses are from carers and 4.5%, 22 responses stated that being a carer would affect their ability to attend. We will continue to offer flexible appointments and recognise that if the cared for person condition changes on the day you might need to cancel at short notice and rebook, we will support with rebooking where possible. Although we cannot support the cared for person whilst screening is taking place we will be meeting with key stakeholders to see if support can be provided so we can signpost patients.
Thank you for completing this survey and be reassured that we will use the data to shape the inequalities plan within the service.
