Work to build the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester has begun, with ground broken at the site at Wythenshawe Hospital by breast cancer survivor Rebecca Hartley and Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver, who have fronted a fundraising appeal to start the construction.
The start of construction of The Academy follows a three-year campaign to raise the £3.9m for the build, jointly run by charities Prevent Breast Cancer and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Charity.
The Academy building will provide a home for a national training programme for breast imaging specialists, training 50 additional imaging staff from apprentice level through to radiographers every year. These specialists will go on to work all over the country. Based in Manchester at Wythenshawe Hospital – part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – the Academy will also increase breast screening capacity in the area by up to 13,000 appointments annually – helping more local women be seen for mammograms.
Rebecca and Sue Cleaver were first to put spades in the ground on site and were joined by Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Mike Kane at the ground breaking, along with representatives from both charities. Kathy Cowell, chairman of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, led the group in breaking ground.
Rebecca said:
I’m so thrilled to help break the ground on this incredible building and take the first step towards a better breast imaging service for women all over the country. This building means such a lot to me; it’s hugely important for women all over the country that we act now to provide the training for the breast imaging specialists of tomorrow, so that we can keep screening women and saving lives.
MFT Charity and Prevent Breast Cancer have jointly fundraised for £3.9m to secure the building, with a final £320,000 left to go.
Kathy Cowell, chairman of MFT Trust and Charity, said:
This Academy is a hugely important part of the fight against breast cancer, creating thousands of new specialists over the years and helping to increase the number of breast imaging appointments in Manchester by a huge 13,000 every year. Our thanks go to every single person, business and organisation who has supported our campaign and helped make this Academy a reality – and to anyone still wanting to support, please dig deep: every penny makes a difference.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has also lent his support to the campaign.
He said:
This is an incredible opportunity for Manchester to lead the way in providing practical and proactive solutions to a very real problem. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and will impact many of us at some point in our lives. My own family has been blighted by breast cancer and sadly we are not alone. This is why the Academy is so important.
Prevention and early detection are everything when it comes to cancer. The National Breast Imaging Academy will provide the staff, the space and the time for women to have mammograms and ultrasounds. Whether as part of the NHS breast screening service, because of a family history, or because a woman has found something of concern, this Academy is central to the future of breast imaging. Without it, we won’t have enough specialists to provide the service and women’s lives will be at risk.
Construction of the National Breast Imaging Academy is expected to take around 10 months, and training courses are already being delivered virtually. It will be located adjacent to The Nightingale Centre, which is one of the largest purpose-built breast centres in Europe.
The construction company is John Turner Construction Group Ltd. The architect is AFL Architects. Project management is provided by DAB Projects.
Prevent Breast Cancer is currently taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, to help raise funds to get The Academy doors open.
This incredible opportunity means that every donation you make between midday December 3rd and midday December 10th will be doubled by The Big Give. That’s right – DOUBLED!
Please consider a donation today, and help make DOUBLE the difference.
About Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, email us today.
