High Peak MP vows to fight to get mobile breast screening units back in Buxton

This makes it difficult to strike the right balance between fighting the spread of the virus and managing other public health problems.

The NHS has saved my life twice and I will always defend it and fight for our local services.

That is why I have been campaigning for projects like a major health centre for Buxton.

I am worried, like so many, about the long-term impact of lockdown on people’s mental health.

It is also concerning how people have not received the treatment they need or been diagnosed in time because of the pressure on the NHS from the pandemic.

I have been particularly disturbed by the impact of the pandemic on breast cancer screenings in High Peak.

NHS England has made the commissioning decision to withdraw the mobile breast cancer mobile screening unit from New Mills, Chapel-en-le-Frith, and Buxton, and relocate all screening to Bakewell.

I am strongly opposed to this

My fear is that this decision will lead to fewer women getting screened as it will simply be too difficult for many to get appointments because of the state of local roads and public transport, especially as we enter the winter months.

This could mean fewer women being diagnosed early.

I have been campaigning hard on this issue in Parliament.

During my speech on the current Covid situation, I called for the reinstatement of breast cancer mobile screening units to the High Peak.

I have also directly urged the minister for public health to address this situation,and he has agreed to meet with me to discuss how we can reach a solution.

I have also written to the Director of Primary Care & Public Health Commissioning, urging them to reverse this decision and reinstate this vital service.

To ensure this message gets through to those making commissioning decisions, you can help by signing and sharing the petition I have launched which I intend to present to Parliament.

You can sign it here.

I am working round the clock to make the voices of High Peak heard in Westminster, and I hope that ministers will work with me to get the right outcome.

Robert Largan is MP for High Peak.