Breast services

UHSM is proud to be home to the Nightingale and Genesis Centre, Europe’s first purpose-built breast cancer prevention facility. The building consists of The Nightingale Centre (the NHS clinical service for breast cancer screening and diagnosis); the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre (for research into prevention, screening and early diagnosis); and an Education Centre (for training breast cancer specialists).

Radiologists at the centre assess the images of up to 300 patients a day using the latest digital mammography equipment. There are also 5 mobile screening vans that serve the local area. The Nightingale Centre is one of only four training centres for mammographers in the UK, and also provides training for radiologists specialising in breast screening.

The centre provides a one stop rapid clinic where women with suspected breast cancer can have an ultrasound, mammogram and fine needle assessment, and if necessary can leave with an operation date scheduled.

The family history clinic is the largest in the UK, providing specially trained nurses who offer genetic counselling to patients with high-risk genetic factors. This state-of-the-art building has been designed with patients in mind, and the sensitive design includes counselling rooms with their own private gardens and back entrances, and stunning artwork including a floor-to-ceiling stained glass window. In recognition of this, the centre was highly commended for its patient-focused design in the ‘Building Better Healthcare’ Awards.