Two new mobile breast screening units are being introduced across Somerset in a move designed to make routine appointments easier to access for eligible residents, including those who may otherwise need to travel to hospitals outside their communities.
The state-of-the-art vehicles replace two units that had been operating for nearly 15 years. The older vehicles had become expensive and difficult to maintain, while noise and vibration from mechanical problems disrupted some appointments.
The new units were officially opened in Wells by Deb Roan, a former Somerset NHS Foundation Trust nurse who was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2024. She has since become an advocate for the importance of early screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Quieter appointments and screening closer to home
The upgraded vehicles use a hybrid generator and battery system intended to reduce noise and vibration while people are being screened. The service will take the units around east and west Somerset on a three-year cycle, allowing communities to receive regular visits.
Mobile screening is particularly important in a rural county where public transport can be limited. By bringing appointments nearer to residents’ homes, the service aims to reduce long journeys to regional hospitals and minimise disruption to daily life.
Dr Zoe Goldthorpe, director of Somerset Breast Screening, said the intention was to bring screening “closer to home” for eligible people. Around 77,000 people aged between 50 and 71 who are registered as female with a Somerset GP qualify for routine screening every three years.
The mobile programme covers east and west Somerset, but does not include Frome, which is covered by the Royal United Hospital Bath. The service also has arrangements for people moving into Somerset, with records updated so they can be placed into the appropriate screening cycle.
What happens if screening identifies a concern?
Hannah Fitch-Goodwin, the trust’s breast screening programme manager, said the programme focuses on detecting possible problems before symptoms appear. If a potential concern is identified, the person is recalled to Musgrove Park Hospital to see specialist clinicians in the breast care unit.
“In the event of a potential concern being identified, individuals are recalled to Musgrove to consult specialist clinicians in the breast care unit, with treatment options offered at either Yeovil or Taunton,” Hannah said.
People aged over 71 can still access screening through self-referral. Eligible transgender and non-binary people are advised to speak to their GP about joining the programme.
Hannah said the changes also support the NHS 10 Year Plan’s focus on prevention and community-based healthcare. The new units are expected to continue travelling across the county so eligible residents can be invited for screening as part of the regular three-year cycle.
