St George’s Hospital is to open a new centre for the diagnosis of breast cancer and other related diseases.

The hospital, in Tooting, is a regional cancer centre and its clinical results for breast screening are among the best in London.

The trust’s new breast diagnostic facility will open in 2011, with new digital equipment to improve the efficiency of screening.

Clinics for women with breast symptoms will be provided and the unit will also offer one-stop diagnostic clinics.

Dr Louise Wilkinson, director of screening at St George’s, said: “This announcement is really positive for women in south west London. This will be a sophisticated unit, providing women with a modern, high-quality and efficient screening and diagnostic service, in a calm and caring environment.

“Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment and this unit will provide all the tests women need in one place at one time, and give them their results quickly. This will help reduce anxiety for women and allow the team to fully investigate any problems more efficiently.”

For more information, visit stgeorges.nhs.uk