Loss of breast screening unit 'disservice to women'

A mobile breast screening unit is no longer available in Warminster

Calls have been made for a "valuable" mobile breast screening service to return to a town after being removed by the NHS over alleged antisocial behaviour.

Warminster town councillor Elizabeth Lee said women had told her they were missing screenings due to difficulties reaching other units.

"You have to get a bus to Warminster and then a train to Westbury and then a taxi from the station and this obviously costs a lot of money," said Ms Lee.

Dr Georgina Angel, screening and immunisation lead, NHS England South West, said: "In the best interests of patients and staff the decision was made to relocate the unit to a health centre in nearby Westbury for this current screening round."

Ms Lee said breast screening is something all women should have access to

There had been reports of the unit being daubed in graffiti and youths "banging" on the side of the structure while screenings were taking place.

Warminster Town Council has called for a meeting with Wiltshire Breast Screening Service to urge them to restore the service to the town, where it situated in the Morrisons car park.

Ms Lee said: "We've done a lot of investigation and lots and lots of local women have come forward to me and other councillors saying how silly this is."

She said she took it to council, telling them: "I'm really quite cross about this because it is something all women should have access to. We need to support this and talk to the NHS programme manager about how to reinstate this in Warminster."

'Hear women's voices'

In response to the removal of the service, a petition has been launched, with hundreds already signing in support.

"We just wanted women's voices to be heard, and men's voices too because it could be your wife, your daughter, your sister or it could be your mother," Ms Lee said.

"I think women have been done a disservice in Warminster and [from] the amount of comments and experiences that I've been told and sent, this valuable service needs to come back and it needs to come back soon," she added.

Dr Angel said: "We are working together with Warminster Town Council to ensure residents can access breast screening services."