New Breast Pain Clinic opens in Wallasey
A dedicated Breast Pain Clinic has opened at Victoria Health Centre, Wallasey, offering a new, patient-centred pathway for women experiencing breast pain as their only symptom.
The Breast Pain Clinic aims to significantly improve patient care and reduce anxiety for patients who would previously have been placed on a breast cancer diagnostic pathway involving tests and scans.
The service is run by Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) in partnership with Wirral Community Health and Care Trust (WCHC) to deliver care in the community. It’s a 12 month pilot that has been made possible with funding from Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA).
The new clinic offers faster access to specialist assessment and reassurance, while ensuring that anyone who does require further investigation can be referred immediately onto the cancer diagnosis pathway.
Since opening in June 2025, 95% of patients attending the clinic have been discharged with no further treatment needed.
Subi Venugoplan, Breast Oncoplastic Clinical Fellow at the clinic, said: “Patients are pleased to be seen so quickly and relieved to know that their pain is not linked to cancer. For many, knowing this right away lifts a huge weight off their minds. If we do see something that needs further investigation, we can refer the patient straight onto the cancer pathway without delay, ensuring they get assessed and, if needed, treated as soon as possible.”
Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying that the quick access to care eased their anxiety and provided peace of mind.
One of the first patients, Indie Abeywardhana, 43 from Moreton, was referred by her GP after experiencing acute breast pain. She said: “I was worried because I’d noticed a sharp pain in my right breast when my young son leant on it. I have a physical job that involves lifting, and I’d been feeling some discomfort there, but this pain was sharper. My GP referred me to the clinic and I got an appointment very quickly. When the specialist nurse assessed me, she told me there was nothing to worry about. It really put my mind at rest. If I’d had to go for scans, I would have felt very anxious.”
Indie praised the clinic team for their care and professionalism. She said: “The service was great, and all the staff were absolutely lovely, from the receptionist to the clinicians.”
Janelle Holmes, Joint CEO for WUTH and WCHC, said: “When women come to us with breast pain, we understand how anxious they may feel. This new clinic in the community means we can offer them rapid access to expert assessment, clear answers and, in most cases, reassurance without the unnecessary worry of undergoing cancer investigations. It’s a great example of our two trusts working together in close partnership with CMCA to create services that truly put patients’ needs first.”
The Breast Pain Clinic accepts referrals from GPs for women with no previous history of cancer who have breast pain as their only symptom.
ENDS
Photo: (Left to right) – Karina Clearkin, Breast Pain Clinic Coordinator; Subi Venugoplan, Breast Oncoplastic Clinical Fellow; Kady Gaskill, Clinical Support Worker (some of the Breast Pain Clinic team)