Following his successful campaign earlier this year, local MP Robert Largan has welcomed the return of mobile breast screening services to New Mills and Hope from next month.   

The breast screening service was reinstated to Buxton in July, and Chapel-en-le-Frith in September. 

Screening in Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith is due to be completed by the end of November, and screening in New Mills and Hope will commence on the first week of December 2021. 

The schedule is subject to change due to staff availability and uptake from local women.

The mobile screening unit was withdrawn in 2020 due to Covid-19, meaning local women were asked to travel to Bakewell or Chesterfield instead. The extra distance meant that many women would be unable to make their appointment, which could mean cancer going undiagnosed.

In September 2020, High Peak MP Robert Largan launched a petition calling for the mobile screening unit to be reinstated, which over 2,000 local people signed. 

Mr Largan also led a debate in Parliament to make the case directly to the Health Minister, and secured a public commitment that breast screening services would be brought back to the High Peak by July. 

This commitment was met when the unit returned to Buxton that month.

To catch up with the backlog of patients, North Derbyshire Breast Screening services have four mobile vans in service instead of the usual two. Staff are working overtime and weekend clinics have opened. New mammographers are also being recruited, with two trainees already taken on.

Women eligible for screening will be invited for appointments directly.

Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:

“I am delighted that breast cancer screening clinics are coming back to New Mills and Hope. 

“Given the importance of early diagnosis for breast cancer survival rates, this reinstatement will undoubtedly save lives. 

“A huge thanks to our local NHS staff for working so hard to bring this service back and catch up on the backlog.

“Thanks again to everyone who signed my petition and supported my campaign. This shows what we can achieve when we work together.”