The NHS Breast Screening Programme offers free breast screening every three years to all women aged 50 to 70. Each year, over 2 million women take part in screening across the UK, and around 16,500 breast cancers are found through the programme. Breast screening helps save lives. Recent research shows it is now saving about 1,400 lives every year in England.
The Breast Care Centre at Glenfield Hospital is a unit that brings together expert staff to provide most breast care services for people across Leicestershire. It opened in 1999 and includes four mammography rooms, three film reading rooms, three processing rooms, three ultrasound rooms, and five clinic suites.
In the past year, our team cared for 770 women in Leicestershire who were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Our experienced staff specialise in all aspects of breast disease and work together to provide the highest level of care.
The Centre is also the base for breast screening services in the region. Around 150,000 women aged between 50 and 70 across Leicestershire receive their screening invitations from here.
We also provide several other services, including screening for women with a family history or moderate risk, post-surgery follow-up care, a lymphoedema clinic, a seroma clinic, breast reconstruction, oncology support, and a breast prosthetic fitting service.
If you are aged 71 or over, you can still have free breast screening every three years. You might not get an invitation in the post, but you can call your local screening unit to book an appointment that works for you.
Symptoms of breast cancer in women- Booking an appointment near you: We offer breast screening at many local locations to make it easier to attend. You can see the full list of our screening locations below. If these sites don’t suit your needs, call us and we’ll help arrange a convenient appointment for you.
- Changing your appointment: If you need to change the date, time, or location of your screening appointment, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find a better option.
- Choosing not to attend screening: While we encourage all women to attend breast screening when invited, we respect your decision if you choose not to. Contact us to cancel your appointment so it can be offered to others. If you decide to attend in the future, just contact us and we will book a new appointment for you.
- Missed appointments: If you miss your appointment, please get in touch on to arrange another one.
- Changes to screening locations: Screening sites may change from time to time due to availability. If the new location isn’t convenient for you, please contact us to request a change.
- Recent mammogram or screening elsewhere: If you have had a mammogram within the last year or have been screened at another location, contact us via phone or via the contact page to check if you still need to attend your upcoming appointment.
- Moving house: If you have moved and updated your address with your GP, your new practice will invite you for screening. If it has been over three years since your last screening, you will receive a separate invitation to make sure you don’t miss out. If you think you have missed an appointment, please contact us by phone or email to discuss.
- Text appointment reminders: Want a reminder about your appointment? Just make sure we have your up-to-date mobile number, and we’ll send you a text reminder two days before your breast screening appointment.
What is a mammogram? A mammogram (breast screening) is an X-ray of your breasts used to detect breast cancer early. A female mammographer will gently compress one breast at a time between two plates to take clear images. The compression lasts only a few seconds and doesn’t harm your breasts. It helps get the best pictures with the lowest radiation dose.
Where will my mammogram take place?
Your mammogram may be done at a static unit inside a building or a mobile screening unit at one of our local sites.
Who will perform the mammogram?
A female mammographer will always carry out your mammogram.
Is a mammogram safe?
Yes. Mammograms use a very low dose of radiation — about the same amount you’d get flying from London to Australia and back. The small risk from this dose is far outweighed by the benefits of finding breast cancer early.
Can I bring someone with me?
You can bring someone to your appointment with you, but space is limited. Only you, the person being screened, can go into the X-ray room.
Will a mammogram hurt?
Some women find mammograms uncomfortable or even painful because the breasts are pressed firmly to get a clear image. Any discomfort usually lasts only as long as the mammogram, though a small number of women may feel some soreness afterwards.
How long does a mammogram take?
The mammogram itself takes just a few minutes, but you should allow about half an hour for your whole visit.
What should I wear?
Wear clothes that are easy to remove from the waist up, like a top and skirt or trousers, as you’ll need to undress from the waist up for the screening.
When will I get my results?
Your results will be sent to your home address, usually within two weeks. If there are any delays, you will be informed during your appointment.
Does breast screening prevent cancer?
No, breast screening doesn’t prevent cancer. It helps find breast cancer early—before it can be felt—when treatment is more likely to be successful.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme offers free breast screening every three years to all women aged 50 to 70. Each year, over 2 million women take part in screening across the UK, and around 16,500 breast cancers are found through the programme.
Breast screening helps save lives. Recent research shows it is now saving about 1,400 lives every year in England.
If you are aged 71 or over, you can still have free breast screening every three years. You might not get an invitation in the post, but you can call your local screening unit to book an appointment that works for you.
Contact us
You can contact us to request a change to the date, time, or location of your breast screening appointment.
Phone: 0116 258 3644
Email: [email protected]
Please note, we do not have an answerphone service.
Appointments are available Monday to Friday, depending on availability.
Our phone lines and email inbox are open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The Breast Care Centre at Glenfield Hospital is home to our main (static) breast screening unit and is the base for breast screening services across Leicestershire.
Every year, we send screening invitations to around 150,000 women aged 50 to 70 across the county. To make screening more accessible, we also manage three mobile breast screening vans. These travel to 13 different locations across Leicestershire, making it easier for women to attend their appointments closer to home.
If you’d like to book or change your appointment at one of our mobile screening units, please call us on 0116 258 3644.
We offer breast screening at both our main centre and a number of mobile locations across Leicestershire to make attending your appointment as convenient as possible.
Main screening unit
Breast Care Centre / Gatehouse
Glenfield Hospital
Groby Road
Leicester, LE3 9QP
Mobile screening locations
Hinckley
Morrison’s Supermarket
Normandy Way
Hinckley, LE10 1YA
Melton Mowbray
Tesco Car Park
Thorpe Road
Melton Mowbray, LE13 1SQ
Market Harborough
St Luke’s Hospital
Leicester Road
Market Harborough, LE16 7BN
Loughborough
Behind the Urgent Care Centre (past the red barrier)
Hospital Way, Off Epinal Way
Loughborough, LE11 5JY
Oakham
Rutland Memorial Hospital
Cold Overton Road
Oakham, LE15 6NT
Leicester General Hospital
Coleman Road Entrance
Leicester, LE5 4PW
Fosse Park
Asda Supermarket
Narborough Road South
Braunstone Town, Leicester, LE3 2LL
Measham
Measham Medical Centre
High Street
Swadlincote, DE12 7HR
Our FAQ’s
If you are under 50, you are not currently eligible for routine breast screening through the NHS Breast Screening Programme.
However, if you have a family history of breast cancer, it is important to speak with your GP. They can assess your individual risk and may refer you to a family history clinic at your local breast unit. At this clinic, specialists will evaluate whether you need additional or more frequent mammographic screening based on your family history and risk level. If you believe you may be at high risk, your GP is the best person to guide you on the appropriate screening plan.
Are mammograms safe?
Any x-ray involves radiation but mammograms only require a very low dose. It is about the same as the dose a person receives by flying from London to Australia and back. The risk that such a low dose could cause cancer is far outweighed by the benefits of early detection of breast cancer.
Can I bring someone with me ?
Yes, but there is very limited space and only the client can go into the X-ray room.
Does a mammogram hurt?
Some women find mammography uncomfortable and some find it painful, as the breasts have to be held firmly in position and pressed to take a good x-ray. If you do experience pain it usually only lasts as long as the mammogram, although it may continue for some time in a small number of women.
Does breast screening prevent breast cancer?
No. Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage when it may be too small for you or your doctor to feel. Finding breast cancer early greatly increases your chances of successful treatment.
How long will the mammogram take?
A mammogram takes a few minutes, however your whole visit to the screening unit will take about half an hour.
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an x-ray examination of the breasts and is a method of finding breast cancer at a very early stage. A female mammographer will compress your breasts, one at a time between two special x-ray plates and take the x-rays. The compression only lasts a few seconds and does not cause any harm to the breasts. Compression is needed to keep the breast still and to get the clearest picture with the lowest amount of radiation possible.
What shall I wear for my appointment?
You will be asked to undress completely down to your waist so it is a good idea to wear separates instead of a dress.
When do I get my results?
Your results will be sent to your home address and this should be within 2 weeks. You will be advised of any expected delays at the time of your screening.
Where will the mammogram be done?
Your mammogram will be performed either at a mobile screening unit or static unit within a building, at one of our local screening sites.
Who will take my mammogram?
A female Mammographer will always perform the x-ray.
I have a pacemaker, can I have a mammogram?
Yes, it is safe for you to have a mammogram. It is helpful if you can tell the mammographer where your pacemaker is sited.
I have a pacemaker, will this affect my mammogram?
Your pacemaker may hide the small area of breast tissue behind the pacemaker, preventing it from being seen on the x-ray. The film readers will only be able to report on the breast tissue that they can see on your mammogram.
I have breast implants will this affect my mammogram?
Breast implants appear as a solid white area on a mammogram. This may hide some of the breast tissue preventing it from being seen on the x-ray. The film readers will only be able to report on the breast tissue that they can see on your mammogram.
If you have implants please contact the office prior to your appointment using the contact us page.
I have implants, should I still have a mammogram?
Yes because you still have breast tissue, which should be screened. There is no evidence to suggest breast implants are damaged by mammograms.
If you have been invited to attend screening please contact us to discuss your screening appointment, as we would like to allocate a suitable time for your appointment.
I am 50 why have I not received my appointment?
Once every three years your GP practice will be contacted and all women between the ages of 50 and 70 will be routinely invited. Not every woman will receive an appointment as soon as she is 50. You will receive your first appointment before your 53rd birthday.
I am under 50 can I have an appointment?
Currently the breast screening programme does not screen women under the age of 50. If you have a family history of breast cancer please sees your GP who may refer you to a family history clinic at your local breast unit. The family history clinic will assess your need for extra mammographic screening.
What should I do between breast screens?
You should continue to be breast aware learning what is normal for you and reporting any changes or concerns to your GP without delay. Do not wait until your next mammogram. Breast screening will pick up most but not all breast cancer.
Why is my screening appointment not exactly 3 years since my last appointment?
From time to time changes to the screening plan result in women receiving an appointment slightly later or earlier than the normal 3 year interval.
I am 71 can I have an appointment?
Yes. The risk of getting breast cancer increases as women get older and we encourage women 71 and over to continue with three yearly screening. All women aged 71 and over, will need to contact us to arrange an appointment.
Breast Care Nurse: Offers support and information to women and their relatives at the clinic. Also arranges admission for surgery, if necessary.
- Breast Screening Unit Receptionists/ Administration Team: Confirms your details (as per your appointment letter) and collates your paperwork ready for the radiographer.
- Clinician (radiologist, surgeon, breast clinician): Undertakes clinical examination (e.g. physical examination) of the breast and liaises closely with pathologists and surgeons regarding diagnosis.
- Consultant Radiologist: Undertake ultrasound, Fine Needle Aspirations and view x-rays to decide what other tests may be needed. They also liaise closely with pathologists and surgeons regarding diagnosis.
- Pathologist: A Pathologist is an expert in interpreting tissue samples e.g. any tests that involve taking a small sample of breast tissue will be sent to a pathologist for interpretation. Most tissue samples need to be processed in the laboratory before the results can be given
- Radiographer: Carries out the mammography on X-ray machines. Radiographers may also assist radiologists, and perform breast biopsy. Please note that all our Radiographers are female.
Surgeon: Breast surgeons work in some of our assessment clinics carrying out tests and discussing results with women. If anybody needs further treatment they will be referred to a Breast surgeon in one of the local hospitals (as preferred by the individual patient).