Your visit to the Park Centre for Breast Care

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How should I prepare for my appointment?

Please complete the enclosed forms and bring them with you; even if you have been seen at the breast unit before:
Pre-appointment Questionnaire: for female patients
Patient Master Index: for ALL patients to complete
Pre-attendance Form: for ALL patients to complete

If you have had previous mammograms (breast x-rays) performed at a private clinic or hospital, please obtain them and bring them with you. You can obtain these by ringing the unit that you attended and requesting them. They can be sent to us in the post if you are unable to collect them. You do not need to do this if these x-rays were taken at the Park Centre for Breast Care, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, Worthing Hospital, St Richards or any NHS Breast Screening Unit.

What will happen at my appointment?

Your GP has referred you to be seen by a specialist breast clinician. At your appointment the clinician will ask you questions regarding your general health, medical history and the symptoms you are experiencing. They will then examine your breasts. Based on this consultation some patients will go on to have a mammogram, ultrasound scan or small biopsy. Some patients will have more than one of these tests, while others may not require any investigations at all.

Not all tests are available on the same day as your visit, so it may be necessary for you to return at a later date for your investigations. Please also be aware that if you do have tests, your visit can take from one to three hours.

How to get to the Breast Unit?

The Park Centre for Breast Care is situated opposite Preston Park, on the A23 which is the main road in and out of Brighton.
• Parking: There is no public parking on-site. Inappropriate parking may unfortunately result in a fine. There is no immediate on street parking, however Pay and display car parking is available on the opposite (east) side of Preston Park and the surrounding residential roads.
• Disabled Parking: There is one disabled parking bay at the Breast Unit. If you require disabled access parking, please drive to the barrier, press the intercom and entry will be given on production of a valid disabled parking badge. There is a ‘drop off’ point half way along the north side of the building with direct access to the main lobby and lift. However at peak times it may be necessary to ‘drop off’ a disabled visitor and for the driver to seek alternative parking.
• Buses: Buses stop directly outside the Breast Unit at the stop called ‘Nestor Court’. Routes that serve this stop are: 5, 5A, 17, 33, 40, 40X, and 270. The Metrobus 40X service is free to patients on production of an appointment letter.
• Trains: London Road and Preston Park stations are all within reasonable walking distance: they serve areas within East, West and Mid Sussex.

What facilities are available?

• There is a League of Friends café on Level 3 with a selection of hot and cold drinks and light snacks (open Monday to Friday).
• There are facilities for baby changing.
• There is wheelchair access to the unit (directions above) and toilet facilities for wheelchair users.

Useful contacts

At the end of the leaflet are forms for the patient to complete and take to the appointment. Please print off the PDF version to obtain the forms.