NHS Tayside has defended its decision to hold breast screening appointments in a mobile unit in the car park of a Dundee supermarket, after one concerned patient contacted The Courier.
The 56-year-old reader, who asked to remain anonymous because of the personal nature of her complaint, was outraged when she received a letter asking her to attend the Kirkton branch of Asda for the routine check.
As she lives and works in the Kirkton area, she said she felt “offended” at being asked to undergo such a private procedure in a public place where she is likely to know many people.
She said, “I couldn’t believe it when I got the letter in. I thought it was a joke at first.
“I don’t know how anyone else feels, but I’m offended. I’m from Kirkton and I work there, too but my appointment was for 4.25pm, just as everyone is finishing work and all the schools are coming out.
“It’s for a breast screening, it’s not like you’re just popping in to give blood. What are they going to be testing for next in public places? Chlamydia? Aids?”
The patient said she immediately contacted NHS Tayside to air her concerns and, after much discussion, had her appointment transferred to Ninewells Hospital.
She continued, “I phoned them up and said I wanted an appointment at the hospital. I was eventually given one, but the woman wasn’t happy about it. But I just couldn’t see myself having it done in the Asda car park.”
Debbie Archibald, NHS Tayside breast screening services manager, said that screening centre at Ninewells was due to have a new mammography X-ray unit installed, meaning that there would only be a “small number” of appointments available in coming weeks.
She said, “Rather than delay appointments we decided to use our mobile screening unit and were delighted when Asda Kirkton offered the use of their car park to site our mobile unit.”
She stressed that the staff and equipment on the mobile unit were “exactly the same” as that in the screening centre at Ninewells. She added, “The information leaflet sent with every appointment letter explains to women that if the time, date or location is not suitable they should contact the screening centre directly on 01382 425626 and the staff there will be happy to try and offer an appointment at Ninewells.”