Oxford Breast Imaging Centre (OBIC)
The Oxford Breast Imaging Centre (OBIC) provides a high quality breast screening service, under the direction of the NHS Breast Screening Programme, for women aged 50 and over.
The objective is to detect breast cancer in its early stage and thereby reduce the overall mortality from breast cancer.
All women aged between 50 and their 71st birthday are eligible for screening. Women will receive their first screening appointment before their 53rd birthday.
All women are called for breast screening approximately every three years, according to the GP practice they are registered with. It takes about three years to cover all Oxfordshire GPs in a single screening round.
Screening locations
- OBIC, Surgery and Diagnostics Centre, Churchill Hospital
- Breast Imaging Department, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC)
- Two Breast Mobile Screening Units, which move between sites around Oxfordshire
In addition, the department provides an assessment clinic at OBIC for women whose mammograms showed a possible abnormality. At the assessment clinic, further tests are carried out, which can include further mammography, ultrasound imaging and core biopsies.
Our team
The OBIC team comprises:
- Consultant Radiologists
- Advanced Practitioners
- Radiographers
- Assistant Practitioners
- Radiology Assistants
- Administrators
reporting to a Clinical Director.
Clinics
- Breast Screening Clinics: Monday to Friday
- Assessment Clinics: Monday and Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings
- Breast Clinics: Monday to Friday
Extensive information is available on the NHS Cancer Screening website
Breast Screening: important information
In order to make our service of the highest quality and as efficient as possible:
Please read the leaflet 'NHS Breast Screening, Helping you Decide' and it will hopefully answer the most frequently asked questions about screening.
Please contact us immediately if any of the following applies to you.
- You have had a mammogram within the last six months - this may have been:
- a) Due to having a family history mammogram
- b) Referred by your GP to the two week wait breast clinic
- c) At a private clinic
- d) Through an employee scheme where you work
- e) At another Screening Unit, as you have recently moved into the area
- The appointment date/time is inconvenient and you would like to re-arrange
- If you are currently attending annual follow up mammograms because you have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, please call the office for further advice
- You are receiving continuing care for previous breast problems
- You have moved, or are moving soon
- You have recently changed your GP
- You have difficulties understanding English
- You have access difficulties due to physical mobility problems. We will be happy to discuss any difficulties that you may have, and offer you a more appropriate appointment
Your mammogram will be taken by qualified, female radiographers. It will take around half an hour.
More information about the breast screening examination can be found at on the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme website.
Results will be posted to you and to your GP Practice within two weeks of your breast screening appointment.
It is very important that you let us know if you are not able to attend, as your appointment might be of use to someone else. We screen over 30,000 women a year, so it is important that all our appointment slots are used as efficiently as possible.
Please do not use talcum powder or deodorant on the day of screening as it may affect the quality of the X-ray and subsequently the diagnosis' accuracy.
Find us
There is a map included with the appointment letter:
OBIC A4 travel sheet (pdf, 641 KB)
Breast Imaging Department, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre A4 travel sheet (pdf, 183 KB)
For transport options please see:
How to find us - Getting to the Churchill
How to find us - Getting to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Contact us
Oxford Breast Imaging Centre (OBIC) is part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Screening Unit Office
Surgery and Diagnostics Centre
Churchill Hospital
Old Road
Headington
Oxford OX3 7LE
Tel: 01865 235621 Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
This number is for routine screening only: please see below for Breast Clinic 2WW referrals.
Email: oxfordbreast.screening@ouh.nhs.uk
If you would like to visit the Breast Imaging Centre before attending a screening or symptomatic appointment, we are happy to arrange this.
Breast Imaging Department, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) cannot book or change appointments - please contact the Screening Unit Office listed above.
2 Week Wait (2WW)
One Stop Breast Clinic
The department also provides a symptomatic service by GP and specialist referral for women or men of any age who present with breast problems. The symptomatic imaging takes place at OBIC.
The initial One Stop appointment at the Breast Clinic takes place at either Cancer and Haematology Outpatients or Renal Outpatients at the Churchill Hospital and necessary imaging will follow.
For all Breast Clinic enquiries, please contact us.
Breast Surgery: 01295 229395 Option 1.
Breast Specialist Nurses
Breast Imaging Centre
Level 0, Churchill Hospital
Tel: 01865 235773
Information leaflets
Last reviewed:08 April 2024