Mobile breast screening will be unavailable in Withernsea again this week after electrical cables have been stolen for the second time in two weeks.

Staff at the Humberside Breast Screening Service are now contacting hundreds of women who were due to attend appointments as a matter of urgency.

Karen Hallberg, Superintendent Radiographer for the Humberside Breast Screening Service says:

“This is the second time in as many weeks that we’ve turned up to work ready to screen local women only to find the unit subject to a power outage because electrical cables have been stolen.

“The theft is not just costly and disruptive for us as a service, but it can also be really upsetting for those who are due to attend appointments as some people can get quite anxious in the run up to screening.

“We’re appalled by what’s happened really; it’s upsetting for staff when they come to work to help people, and it’s upsetting for the people of Withernsea that the behaviour of one or two selfish individuals is now affecting their community in this way.”

The overnight theft is the second time in two weeks that the mobile screening unit has been targeted while in Withernsea, after the original power cables supplying the unit were stolen on 23 November. The thefts have been reported to police.

Staff will now begin work to reschedule appointments for those who are affected by this week’s cancellations, and would like to reiterate the apology for any inconvenience.