To not go for scan in a car park

[JesusSufferingFuck22]

I’ve been given a breast screening appointment. It’s in a mobile unit at our local supermarket.

I have mobility issues due to MS and think it’ll be a challenge for me to get there.

Does anyone know how accessible these vans are? I use a manual wheelchair but can walk a short distance/use stairs with handrails.
I’ve emailed them and let them know my needs but I’m feeling pretty uncomfortable about it. It’s like my disability will be on display in a car park. Can I request to have my appointment elsewhere or am I being too sensitive?

The one I go to is still parked up in the local leisure centre carpark. However it is up some steep steps into a "portakabin" style unit and is definitely not wheelchair accessible. No mention of that in my appointment letter! Nor is there a great deal of room inside.
I'd scope out the outside of the unit beforehand and if the access doesn't suit you phone them to rearrange.

Yes you’re being too sensitive .. but you already know that.
The units are lovely, warm and private inside, with locked doors.
iirc ours has steps and a ramp.

Just let them know in advance of your needs and everything should be accommodated. Your health is more important than your embarrassment/nerves/anxiety .. but you already know that too.

Good luck x

Our mobile unit is in a supermarket car park. It is positioned right next/opposite to parking spaces reserved for disabled users. There were a few steps to negotiate, with good, stout handrails. I think it might also have had ramp access but I can't remember for sure.

When I had mine, there was a ramp, the stairs had handrails and I was the only person in there apart from the staff. Having had a scan in hospital too, I preferred the mobile unit. It was more private and the staff only had me to focus on.

Good to check ahead for accessibility requirements. I cannot walk stairs and was sent for a MRI in a van that didn’t have a lift, so I had to drag myself up and down the stairs crying in pain. There was no warning on the letter that it didn’t have disabled access. Madness given I imagine many MRI patients have limited mobility

I went to a mobile unit in the car park of a health centre and there was no toilet. I used the one in the health centre and you could maybe use the one in the supermarket before you go in.

Ours used to be parked in the huge public car park outside the secondary school. On my first mammogram, I told my son about it and what time it was at and he said "aargh! That's when I'm in biology and the lab looks straight on to that mobile unit! I hope my mates don't see you in there!"
In reality of course, the kids couldn't give a shit what's going on in the car park and there's no way of seeing in to the boob squishing room 😀

Oh I'm sorry @CatJumperTwat. That's shocking!

I've been for a boob scan in a supermarket car park. Pogniantly, it was on what would've been my friend's birthday, had she not died of breast cancer.

It was tucked away miles from the shop.
I parked next to it.
There was a wheelchair lift.
I was the only "client" inside.
It was nicely fitted out.
I was in and out in about 10 mins.
It was far, far, far more convenient than going to our nearest hospital.

I have my ENT appointments and treatments in a carpark unit. There is always a ramp, and it's so much better than the hospital. Plenty of parking for a start! Plus none of the staff have ward patients to see, so it's pretty much always on time.

I would say with your issues that these mobile ones are much better suited to your needs.

They usually have parking very close by - unlike hospitals where you have to park further away and then find your way around the hospital too.

And they usually have toilets close by too either in a supermarket or public toilets - whereas in a hospital you have to find them and they’re again often much further away.

I agree with many pp posters, the supermarket units are fine, just as discreet and professional as the hospital or clinic based units. I think they make it a lot easier for many women to keep appointments since usually parking or bus access is much easier.

I’m wondering if there’s some confusion as a lot of people keep calling them “vans” or almost speaking about them as if they’re concerned they won’t be much bigger than the average man-with-a-van. In fact, they’re often an entire large “shipping container” office, which has been dropped off by a lorry, or a trailer that is just as long. Many look like they don’t have ramps, but they have two sets of stairs and one of them is often a lift (this is not ALWAYS true - do call and check). I’ve attached photos of both the lorry kind and the “trailer” kind. They often (again, not always) contain at least one washroom stall as well, though it might be small-ish.

Good luck, OP. I know it can be stressful trying to navigate these things when you’re trying to deal with a disability on top of everything, but I agree with others that you may find this significantly more convenient than a mammogram in the hospital. But as others have said, do call first and ask some questions to make sure they can meet your needs.

I’ve done it, it’s way way more private than a hospital. They are parked out of the way, and when you’re in there it’s just you. One person at a time. Mine had three steps up with a handrail, I think there was also a ramp. There is no way anyone can see in and the door locks when in there.

Unless you’re a wheelchair user, I don’t think you can say they’re all accessible. Our local mobile unit does not have a ramp but rather steep stairs. No one will be looking at you but I understand your feelings.

At ours, you would need to leave your wheelchair down the bottom of the steps and keep your fingers crossed it’s still there when you come out - unless you can lock it up like a bicycle.

I would try to ring the service to find a more accessible location. Others are right, it’s very convenient for parking and there was no queue whatsoever when I went, but if you need to use your wheelchair until you get into the room in order to stand temporarily then I imagine you’ll need somewhere different.

Good luck wherever you go. Please don’t be tempted to miss the appointment. My breast cancer was picked up during a routine mammogram.

They are very variable.

The last one I had was one in and one out (covid) and small but previous ones were much larger with a waiting area and 3 changing cubicles. I would say that privacy was not good as far as sound is concerned, which is why I heard the entire exchange with the lady before me who was disabled.

I've had several scans in these car park units...

Theyve all either had ramps or lifts... They rightly ans legally need tp make it accessible.

I would flag up by email you're a wheelchair user so they can call you if a lift (for example) is out of order on the day.

Once you're inside they feel exactly as every other clinic.

In fact the last one, gave thr local private clinic a run for their money!

All the staff were really pleasant!

Ring the number on the letter and ask. It is the only way to find out.

I don’t have a disability so can’t answer on that score but I’m so pleased to have a mobile scanning unit so close to home as I always had to get to a very inconveniently placed hospital before, now it’s just a ten minute walk.

I had my appointment just before Christmas and phoned the number on my appointment letter ‘if you cannot attend this appointment, contact us …..’ . I explained my mobility problems as I need level access and need additional time to un/dress, etc. and an alternative appointment was made at the hospital breast clinic which is fully accessible and has longer appointment time slots. Just call them and explain.

The one i go to has a lift and theres room inside for my wheelchair

Telephone the no on the appointment letter and they will either reassure about the suitability of the unit or rearrange the appointment. But these mobile units provide easy access for women to get to appointments

I have MS and use a mobility scooter - I had to have a MRI at at mobile scanning unit recently and it had an outdoor lift, are you able to scope it out in advance?

You need to ask to find out if the unit they are using will be accessible for you.

The one i have used on two occasions had no lift, just steep stairs. As you can see on here, some units will be accessible.

If it is not accessible you will be able to be seen at the hospital (as you can if you can’t make an appointment when the unit is in your local area).

To give you some reassurance, I also found it very weird going to the until in the local supermarket car park the first time I attended. I also felt very self conscious going into the unit and it felt as if everyone was watching. I lost that feeling as soon as I got in there and haven’t felt the same at other visits.

They will have wheelchair access