Build to Beat
Breast Cancer Appeal
Thanks to you….
The National Breast Imaging Academy has officially opened its doors!
Thanks to the £3.9million raised by our Charity, Prevent Breast Cancer and funding from NHS England, this incredibly important Academy can now begin to transform breast services across the UK, training up to 50 new specialists every year and provide as many as 13,000 additional breast screening appointments annually.
The Academy will train the next generation of breast imaging specialists to go on to work all over the country, addressing a significant workforce shortfall. It also houses the first contrast mammography machine in the north west, which uses new technology to improve breast cancer diagnosis in younger patients.
Thank you to everyone who made this a reality – your support has built a stronger future for breast cancer care.
Dr Mary Wilson
“The NHS breast screening programme has been under pressure from reduced workforce levels for a number of years now but the Academy has the potential to change that by providing a steady flow of qualified experts to work all over the country in breast imaging.
“This unique training academy will offer us a wonderful environment in which to train the workforce needed to support breast services across the country, together with increasing our capacity to see additional patients and providing space in which to undertake life-saving research. It has taken over four years to achieve this goal, and it is a very proud moment indeed to finally see it standing here ready to welcome patients through its doors. I would like to say a special thank you to all our generous supporters who have made this a reality.”
Sally Dynevor
“This Academy is an absolute jewel in the crown for breast cancer care in England. To think that the next generation of breast imaging specialists will learn their trade within these walls and go on to help women through the devastating experience of breast cancer diagnosis is really incredible.
“Every breast cancer journey starts with diagnosis, and having timely access to a specialist can help make that part of your journey that bit easier. It certainly did for me when I was diagnosed – not facing an agonising wait for a mammogram stopped me spiralling with worry before diagnosis. And that’s not to mention the hundreds of thousands of women going for regular mammogram screens every year – all of whom will be seen by a breast imaging specialist.”
More people will survive breast cancer
The centre has been built as an extension of the current Nightingale Centre at our Wythenshawe Hospital site. This hospital is one of 10 NHS hospitals Manchester Foundation Trust Charity supports, making our organisation one of the best-placed to take this appeal forward.
The Nightingale Centre is also one of the leading breast services units in the country and many breast cancer patients already attend the centre for their diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. The Centre has also seen an increase in patients who travel from further afield, having seen their local services close due to a shortage of imaging staff. This is why The Nightingale Centre is the ideal location for the new training academy – it is already at the heart of where lifesaving and life-changing work takes place.
The key benefits of the training are that it will allow up to 13,000 additional women to be seen each year for their mammogram and follow-up appointments; new breast imaging specialists will have a dedicated space for training and the essential space will also have cuting-edge facilities.
Hear from survivor Candy Ekanoye on her breast cancer story and what the future could look like.
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