Two new mammography chairs are helping Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) offer extra support for patients visiting to undergo breast screening.
The South Lancashire Breast Screening Service, based at the Thomas Linacre Centre (TLC) in Wigan, and Leigh Infirmary, has dedicated clinics for patients who may require additional time and support for their screening. Patients with physical disabilities and limited mobility often find mammograms uncomfortable due to the positioning, so the service looked at alternative ways to make breast screening suitable and adaptable for everyone. Use of the VELA chairs allows patients to have the procedure whilst being seated, which improves the patient experience at these clinics.
Amy Bissell, Operational Manager for the South Lancashire Breast Imaging Service at WWL, said: “In the past, we used alternative chairs to perform breast imaging in a seated position when needed, but it wasn’t ideal. The chairs had limited adjustability, were large and heavy, and it was difficult to manoeuvre their arms and height, making the experience more difficult, for both patients and staff.”
Using funds donated to WWL’s Three Wishes Charity, a specialist VELA mobility chair has been purchased for each of the clinics at the TLC and Leigh Infirmary.
Amy continued: “The new chairs are easier for our staff to move patients into position at the breast imaging equipment and are more adaptable to meet each patients’ individual needs. We can change the height of them, move them in and out, and move the arms of the chair so our patients feel more comfortable and secure. There is also less manual handling for staff, so they are less at risk of injury. The chairs have been used a number of times already, and we’ve had some great feedback from both patients and our Mammographers!”
It's also hoped that the chairs will help address health inequalities in the local area, by helping all patients with physical disabilities and limited mobility feel supported to attend their breast screening when invited.
Kev Parker-Evans, Chief Nursing Officer at WWL, said: “We want to do all we can at WWL to make sure our patients feel safe and comfortable when they come to use our services. Making reasonable adjustments for patients undergoing breast screening can help make them feel more at ease, whether they are disabled, have reduced mobility, learning disabilities, or for any other reason. I hope having these chairs will encourage more people to come forward for a breast screening when they are invited, as they will feel more informed and know there is help for them, if needed.”
There are a number of ways you can help to continue to improve patient experience and support our Three Wishes Charity. Visit www.wwl.nhs.uk/fundraising to find out more.