Breast care unit chosen for civic appeal

The NHS trust said the appeal would enable it to develop its service

A hospital breast care unit that has given "tremendous support" to the family of a mayor's wife has been chosen as his civic charity.

Diagnostic checks and treatment for women with breast conditions across Nuneaton and Bedworth are provided by the facility at the George Eliot Hospital.

The mayor in the two towns, councillor Bill Hancox, said his wife's family had a history of breast cancer and he wanted the appeal to raise awareness of "all of the valuable work done" at the Nuneaton unit.

A fundraiser was shared online following the launch of the 2024/25 civic charity at Nuneaton Town Hall.

Over the coming months the mayor and mayoress, alderwoman Sheila Hancox, want to raise awareness of work by staff as well as raising funds for new equipment at the facility.

The service is "vital to women at every stage of their journey, providing essential expert clinical and emotional support to patients," the NHS hospital trust said.

It added the appeal would enable it to develop "our service and ensure we are able to provide a better environment at every stage of patient care, including developing a comfortable counselling area".

An online fundraiser was shared following the launch

The unit has developed in recent years and now has a radiologist "to improve patient pathways, which has seen the capacity double," a spokesperson said.

The hospital was now looking at what steps were needed to continue the growth of the service to meet the needs of patients.

Mr Hancox said: "We really want this appeal to raise awareness of all of the valuable work done by the breast care unit and its highly committed staff."

The mayor and mayoress will contact businesses, schools, colleges and voluntary groups to see if they can help support the appeal.