PLANS are under way to expand the breast cancer screening service in Southampton after it was agreed to merge the facilities offered in Hampshire.

A review of the services offered in the county showed that the facility covering Southampton and Salisbury, based at the city's Royal South Hants Hospital, met all national standards and should stay as it is.

But it also revealed that the services provided at Winchester and Basingstoke were too small and should merge.

A public consultation on the proposals met with a mixed response, with residents and health groups in Winchester preferring to see the service provided there, while residents and groups in Basingstoke suggesting it would be better to offer the facility at Basingstoke.

Discussions are still under way at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority about where the new, merged service will be based.

But as research has shown that larger screening units boast greater detection rates, the Southampton and Salisbury service has been earmarked for expansion.

It is hoped the scheme will help to improve early detection of potential cancers and also accommodate expansion of the National Breast Screening Programme, while still being linked with surgery and breast care nurses.

The plans involve extending the existing breast cancer screening unit on level C of the Royal South Hants Hospital's outpatient centre into the adjoining medical records library.

It will include separate areas for waiting, film processing, breast care nurses, management and tests.

Funding has not yet been confirmed for the £634,000 scheme, but Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal South Hants Hospital, is hoping to secure the cost of the project from the National Breast Screening Programme.

Once this funding has been confirmed, work can begin on the scheme, which it is hoped will be completed by March 2004.