Breast screening
If you have been referred to the breast screening unit via the National Breast Screening Programme:
- the NHS Cancer Screening Programme website offers a step by step guide to breast screening, and you can also find useful information on the GOV.UK website
- find out more information about the Breast Assessment Clinic if you have been asked to visit in the patient information leaflet below
- find out more information about the Breast Care Unit if you have been asked to visit
Breast imaging services we offer
South East London Breast Screening Service is part of the National NHS Breast Screening Programme. The aim of screening is to find breast cancers when they are small and can be treated more effectively.
There are two separate breast imaging services at King’s:
- GPs should refer symptomatic people to the Breast Care Clinic.
- women and those assigned female at birth (including trans men and non-binary people) aged 50 to 70 who don’t have symptoms are invited to the South East London Breast Screening Service. Those aged 71 or over can also book a screening.
How we will care for you
Breast screening saves lives. It offers a significant opportunity for the early detection of breast cancer which increases the chances of recovery and reduces the need for treatments like chemotherapy. This is a part of free population screening offered by the NHS.
Watch the video below to find out more about the importance of attending breast screenings. This film features 12 south east London residents who have attended breast screening. Some are breast cancer survivors. You can also hear more about breast screening in short films featuring Humaira, Jennifer, Joy, Joyce, Lindsay and Philomena.
Improving breast screening awareness for our Black communities in South East London
The South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA) has worked with partners across south east London, including the Southwark Culture Health and Wellbeing Partnership, to encourage and support women from Black communities to attend their breast cancer screening appointment and improve early cancer diagnosis.
Students from the London College of Communication created a thought-provoking animation to help support conversations on cancer, and address some of the common misconceptions and concerns. It features the testimonials of Black African women living across Southwark. Watch the animation.
Breast Screening Language Glossary
The South East London Breast Screening Service has created a Breast Screening Language Glossary to support breast screening. It translates key terms from NHS breast screening information into the most spoken languages within South East London.
Preparing for your appointment
Call us on 020 3758 2024 or email [email protected] before your mammogram if you:
- have breast implants
- are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you have any form of disability or additional needs please also call or email as above and we can ensure your needs are met through longer appointment times, accessibility to screening sites and additional support from staff.
South East London Breast Screening Service has more information about what to expect at your appointment.
Locations
Screening is carried out at our static sites across King’s College Hospital and at mobile units across South East London:
- King’s College Hospital – Breast Radiology, Ground floor, Cheyne Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS
- King’s College Hospital – Breast Screening, Camberwell Building, 104 Denmark Hill, SE5 8RX
- Bromley Phoenix Centre, BR2 9JG
- Sydenham Sainsbury’s, SE26 4PU
- St Paul’s Cray Clinic, BR5 2RJ
- Memorial Hospital, SE18 3RZ
- Queen Mary’s Hospital, DA14 6LT
If you have any questions or you would like to know more, www.nhs.uk has further information and advice.
Contact Details
- Breast Radiology appointments and queries email: [email protected]. This email address should only be used for breast radiology enquiries. If you are a GP or patient please contact the Breast Care unit on [email protected]
- Breast Radiology appointments and queries tel: 020 3299 3380
- Clinical nurse specialist: 020 3299 3615
Patient information leaflets
| Title | File Size | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Assessment Clinic | 35 KB | |
| Breast MRI guided biopsy | 183 KB | |
| Caring for a patient during an X-ray examination | 148 KB | |
| Mammography during pregnancy and breastfeeding (breast radiology) | 152 KB |
There are two separate breast imaging services at King’s:
- GPs should refer symptomatic people to the Breast Care Clinic.
- women and those assigned female at birth (including trans men and non-binary people) aged 50 to 70 who don’t have symptoms are invited to the South East London Breast Screening Service. Those aged 71 or over can also book a screening. The screening service is described below.
Resources
The South East London Breast Screening Service (SELBSS) has created a Breast Screening Community Partner Guide with information for community partners, clinical and non-clinical GP staff, public health professionals, voluntary community sector (VCS) and wider professionals across South East London (SEL). The guide supports the discussion and promotion of breast screening.
SELBSS has also created a Breast Screening Poster to encourage screening and a Breast Screening Language Glossary that translates key terms from NHS breast screening information into the most spoken languages within South East London.
Booking a patient at King’s
Routine Referrals
All eligible people will be sent an invitation to a screening.
Those aged 71 years old or over are still recommended to attend screening and are welcome to self-refer if they have not been routinely screened in the last 3 years by phoning 020 3758 2024.
Emergency Referrals
Not applicable – this is a screening service for well people.
Key Clinical Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Bhavna Batohi | Consultant Radiologist |
| Mrs Gill Bowman | Clinical Nurse Specialist- Breast Screening. |
| Dr Charlotte Longman | Consultant |
| Mrs Viv Milnes | Consultant Radiographer |
| Dr Juliet Morel | Consultant Radiologist |
| Miss Janet Sedgwick | Lead CNS Breast Screening |
| Dr Rema Wasan | Consultant Radiologist |