Sussex Cancer Fund Helps Create a More Sensory-Friendly Breast Screening Experience
At Sussex Cancer Fund, we believe that improving cancer care is about much more than medical treatment alone. Sometimes it is the small changes that can make the biggest difference to how someone feels when attending an appointment.
We are delighted to have supported the West Sussex Breast Screening Service with the introduction of new sensory-friendly resources designed to help create a calmer, more comfortable environment for people attending breast screening appointments.
The project includes a range of simple but thoughtful additions, including ear defenders to reduce noise, worry stones to help ease anxiety, the option to listen to music, and gentle ambient lighting within mammography rooms. Together, these changes aim to make breast screening more accessible and welcoming for people who may experience sensory sensitivities, anxiety, autism, learning disabilities, or who simply find medical environments overwhelming.
Breast screening plays a vital role in the early detection of breast cancer, and ensuring that as many people as possible feel able to attend their appointments is incredibly important. For some individuals, concerns about unfamiliar environments, bright lights, noise, or anxiety can create barriers to accessing screening. By making small adjustments to the environment, the team hopes to help more people feel comfortable, supported and confident when attending.
We are proud to have funded the equipment needed for this initiative, working alongside the dedicated staff within the West Sussex Breast Screening Service who identified this opportunity to enhance the patient experience. Their commitment to reducing health inequalities and making services more inclusive reflects the values that underpin so much of the work we support across Sussex.
Projects like this are only possible because of the generosity of our supporters. Every donation, fundraising challenge, event ticket, raffle ticket purchase, corporate partnership and gift in memory helps us fund practical improvements that directly benefit local people affected by cancer.
While this project may seem small in scale, it demonstrates how thoughtful, patient-centred improvements can have a meaningful impact on someone’s experience of healthcare. By listening to patients and responding to their needs, we can help ensure that cancer services are not only clinically excellent, but also compassionate, accessible and welcoming for everyone.
Our sincere thanks go to the West Sussex Breast Screening Service for leading this initiative and to every Sussex Cancer Fund supporter whose generosity continues to make projects like this possible.
Raised in Sussex. Stays in Sussex. đź’™
