Unfortunately, mammography is not technically possible for all women.
Electric wheelchairs are not suitable for use during mammography. These pose a safety risk to staff and to clients.
- Mammography takes place in small X-ray rooms which do not have the necessary space to allow for electric chairs to manoeuvre. During mammography the power would need to be switched off but the chair would be too heavy to manoeuvre. If the power were left on, the staff would not be able to put the chair into position using the controls.
- Electric wheelchairs do not have removable sides which are necessary for positioning for mammography.
- Access to the mobile screening unit is via a hoist. If the power switch is caught on the chair while the hoist is being lowered the chair could reverse before the door is closed.
- Electric chairs gain speed very quickly and may accidently drive onto the foot controls of the mammography unit. Staff will not be able to reach the controls in time to prevent this. Pressure on the foot switch could cause the mammography unit to be driven down onto the client.
- Electric wheelchairs are much larger than manual chairs and there is not enough space for staff to move behind the chair from the opposite side of the room to operate the mammography unit.
Manual wheelchairs with removable sides are suitable for screening mammography
- Clients must be able to lift their arm over the top of the mammography unit and maintain this position throughout the procedure.
- The client must be able to hold themselves upright to separate the breast from the abdomen and maintain this position throughout the procedure.
- If the sides of the chair are not removable the client must be able to transfer with limited help to a mammography chair.
