Groundbreaking 3D mammography system opens in the north of England

A new 3D system designed to “reshape” the mammography experience has opened in the north of England.

The Pristina pod, developed by GE HealthCare, will provide breast screening to the population of Gateshead, easing patient anxiety and discomfort during the exam.

Designed in a “more inviting” way, the system has been shown to lower patient anxiety by 37 per cent, resulting in a better overall experience.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust has become the first organisation in Europe to start using the pod.

“The breast screening team and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to change the way we work to help benefit Gateshead patients,” said lead radiographer for breast imaging, Joanne Brand.

“We are looking forward to welcoming more women to our ‘screening pod’ and the positive impact this will have on our patients.

“We are delighted to be the first in Europe to offer this facility and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for breast screening.”

Gateshead Health has been awarded funding from NHS England to enable the screening units to help recover the screening backlog due to the pandemic.

The pod equipment has been installed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and has been used by its first patients last month.

Breast screening with a mammogram can help to find breast cancers early when they are too small to see or feel.

In the UK, the NHS Breast Screening Programme invites all women from the age of 50 to 71 for screening every three years.

According to Cancer UK, each year more than two million women undergo breast cancer screening.