Formal complaint after breast screening unit relocated

A town council has submitted a formal letter of complaint to NHS England as it continues to campaign to restore a breast screening unit.

It follows the decision in October to close the mobile service in a Morrisons car park in Warminster, Wiltshire, after concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Elizabeth Lee said there had been a "continued lack of engagement from NHS England" regarding the future of the community's "accessible, potentially life-saving early detection" unit for breast cancer.

NHS England South West said access had remained available and it was in discussion with the local town council to review the location.

The town council said it had requested a meeting with NHS England to discuss the return of Warminster's mobile service.

"We have yet to receive a response or even an indication of when a meeting might be scheduled...this lack of communication is both disappointing and unacceptable," Lee said.

Residents in the town currently have to travel four miles to Westbury, or further afield, to get screened.

"People are being sent letters to go to Swindon which is a 100 mile (161km) round trip - for some people this is not possible," she added.

More than 1000 people have signed a petition - launched by Warminster health campaigner David Reeves - calling for the local unit to be brought back.

Reeves said he is worried some local women have no access to essential screening.

"They're likely to be the least affluent, those who haven't got a car, those who are less mobile. They are going to be the people potentially who are going to miss out on this, and it's really important," he added.

The unit was closed due to anti-social behaviour, including people banging on the side of the van during treatment sessions.

But Reeves said alternative sites had not been considered.

"We had several alternative sites that would have met the needs perfectly but we weren't given that opportunity," he added.

A spokesperson for NHS England South West said while they know "breast screening saves lives" and the mobile breast screening unit was moved "due to health and safety concerns".

They said access had remained available, with uptake still high.

"We have been in discussion with Warminster Town Council and have committed to reviewing the location for the next round of screening," they added.

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