Bus boosts campaign against breast cancer

A NEW breast screening awareness bus has hit the road in Plymouth as part of a campaign to encourage more people to attend appointments

- LAURA JOINT

It follows recently updated figures which show a worrying fall in the uptake of breast screening appointments nationally and locally, with the overall uptake in the Plymouth health area dropping to 72.5%. In some parts of Plymouth, the figure has dropped to 54%.

Thanks to funding from Plymouth-based breast care charity the Primrose Foundation and the Primrose Breast Care Centre screening team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, a Plymouth Citybus double-decker has been given a makeover in the Primrose Foundation colours of pink, yellow and grey.

For the next 12 months, the bus will be used by Plymouth Citybus on routes across the city, but primarily where breast screening take-up is known to be particularly low.

The bus is part of a three-year ‘Support Us To Support You’ campaign launched by the foundation in October 2022, which is aimed at increasing breast care awareness and raising more funds towards local NHS breast services.

The bus has the slogan ‘Breast Screening Saves Lives – Always attend your free screening appointment’. The ‘Support Us To Support You’’ message is also displayed.