New £980,000 breast care unit opens at Chorley Hospital (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New £980,000 breast care unit opens at Chorley Hospital

5:20pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Chorley

A new £980,000 breast care unit which enables tests to be done in one day has opened at Chorley Hospital.

It was officially opened by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle on Friday.

The new unit enables clinical investigations and tests to be carried out in one day and diagnosis is quicker than before, in the majority of cases within one week.

Previously, a patient could be seen a number of times for a variety of tests and investigations before a diagnosis could be made.

Around 150 patients a week will be seen in the new unit, with capacity to expand further if the demand for breast care services increases.

For the first time all specialist breast care staff are based within one unit, enabling more effective team working and quicker treatment for patients.

Sara Scott, consultant breast care nurse at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Before the new unit opened, we would normally see new patients at least twice.

Now, lots of our patients are able to return home with a diagnosis and information about the next stages of their treatment on the same day that their tests have been carried out.”

Mr Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: “Thanks to the investment in our local hospital here in Chorley more patients can be seen.

“More importantly the speed at which diagnoses is given will be much quicker resulting in better patient care. Chorley and South Ribble Hospital has an excellent reputation and is a leader in many fields.

“The breast care unit will ensure that this remains the case and local residents will benefit from this additional investment in our NHS.”

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