New screening programme signing up patients at Chapelfield

The AAA screening team from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will be at Chapelfield from 9am to 6pm on 8th May.

The team will be signing up men aged over 65 years who can benefit from screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (also known as AAAs). It is part of a new national screening programme which is being launched at NNUH. Patients will be invited to various screening locations in the community across Norfolk and Waveney.

An estimated 80,000 men aged between 65 and 74 are affected by the condition, which is caused when the main blood vessel in the abdomen – the aorta- weakens and starts to expand. If undetected, the condition can be fatal and around 6,000 men die every year in England from a burst Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Men who have an abdominal aortic aneurysm will not generally notice any symptoms, which is why screening is so important.

Sarah Pond, AAA screening co-ordinator says: “This is an opportunity for patients to come along and find out more information or sign up for screening. We can arrange a screening test which will only take a few minutes and can save lives.”

Chapelfield’s general manager Davina Tanner said: 'Chapelfield is so pleased to be working with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on this hugely beneficial range of health awareness campaigns. The AAA programme is another brilliant example of information about life-saving screening being available in our shopping centre.'

Notes to editors
The new NHS AAA Screening Programme will reduce deaths from the condition by up to 50 per cent by detecting AAA’s early and offering appropriate monitoring or treatment. Men aged 65 and over are most at risk from the condition so invitations for screening are being sent out to men in the area in the year they turn 65.

The screen test involves a simple ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta which measures the aortic diameter. The screening test takes less than 10 minutes, is highly effective and men receive their result immediately.

Men who are older than 65 and have never had screening or treatment for an AAA can request to be screened by going to the Chapelfield event or contacting their local programme on 01603 288218 or email the programme co-ordinator Sarah Pond at sarah.pond@nnuh.nhs.uk

For more information please visit the national programme website at: http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk