The building of Salisbury’s first Breast Unit is underway…

Thanks to the marvellous support we have received from the local community for our Breast Cancer Unit campaign, building work is now underway for Salisbury’s first dedicated Breast Unit.

ue for completion by late 2016, the new Unit will provide the best possible facilities for patients with dedicated diagnostic, treatment and counselling rooms enabling quicker care and treatment. Diagnosis and follow up will all be delivered in one place with less need for patients to visit other departments in the Hospital. Thanks to the increased space, and availability of state-of-the-art equipment, patients attending for tests to see if they have breast cancer will receive their diagnosis on the same day, avoiding anxious waits for results. And clinics will be run jointly with oncologists and plastic reconstructive surgeons, meaning patients will no longer need to visit the hospital as frequently.

The Unit will be named after retired Salisbury engineer David Brown who made a particularly substantial donation to the campaign. Many other generous donors will also be recognised within the Unit and there will be a chance for supporters to tour the Unit once complete – please get in touch for more details.

The Breast Cancer Unit campaign has been jointly chaired by consultant surgeons Vicky Brown and Anna Aertssen. Miss Brown said: “We are hugely grateful for the massive support from the local community and wish to thank everyone who has supported us to get us to this exciting day where the building work can commence. This Breast Unit will mean better care for thousands of women, men and their families for years to come. On their behalf, and on behalf of the whole team, thank you so much”.

Pictured L-R: Consultant Surgeon Miss Aertssen, Breast Care Nurses Sonnya Dabill and Shirley Holmes, and two of our Breast Cancer Unit patient representatives – Jo and Ruth.

One in eight women will develop Breast Cancer in their lifetime and breast cancers treated in Salisbury have increased by nearly 40% in the last two years. Whilst the Hospital’s specialist breast care team offer excellent care, the number of patients they see is growing fast. The dedicated Breast Unit will provide even better, quicker and more dignified care to the 4,500 local women, and the small number of men, they see each year. Currently, as in many general hospitals in England, there are no dedicated facilities for breast patients. Find out more about the Breast Cancer Unit campaign

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