Work to build the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester has begun.
Ground has been broken at the site at Wythenshawe Hospital by breast cancer survivor Rebecca Hartley and Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver (pictured, main image), who have fronted a fundraising appeal to start the construction.
The start of construction follows a three-year campaign to raise the £3.9 million 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.
Hartley and 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.
Hartley (above) 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 £500,000 left to go.
Cowell 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.”
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.
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