PLANS for a new breast care unit at Yeovil District Hospital have been submitted.

The scheme, which is the result of a fundraising campaign which has raised more than £1 million towards the project, would be built on the south east of the hospital site.

The aim is to offer women a 'one-stop-shop' for treatment, rather than patients' care being spread across different departments and buildings, the application says.

"The Breast Care Team at Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) provides care and support in all aspects of breast care, including treatment for benign breast disease and breast cancer," it says.

"Non in-patient care is provided from a multitude of locations at YDH: Outpatients, Women’s Hospital Outpatients, the breast care nurse’s ‘office’ accommodation and imaging support from the main imaging department at YDH.

"Clinics are also provided at other off site locations – South Petherton Hospital."

It says there are 'issues with the environment and its impact on the current patient pathway/flow with women returning on alternate days for diagnostic imaging or discussion of results, diagnosis and next stage treatment planning'.

"This causes unnecessary additional anxiety for patients which could have a negative effect on their clinical outcome," it said.

"This is predominantly due to lack of available clinic space, and access to ultrasound equipment (USS) within the imaging department."

The plan outlines how the 'majority' of patients would be able to park in the existing multi-storey car park.

"There is no need for extra car parking as the patients that will use the facility are existing patients of the hospital," it says.

In conclusion, the application says: "The Breast Care unit development will provide an important, much-needed facility for the hospital and wider region for breast care treatment, allowing patients to be seen, investigated and provided with an outcome on the same day, reducing the need for patients to make multiple trips to the hospital and reducing wait times for results."

The plan will go before planners in the coming months.

For more details, and to comment on the plan, log on to southsomerset.gov.uk/services/planning, and search for application reference 21/02873/FUL.