Male health workers should be allowed to perform breast screening examinations to help relieve staff shortages, say experts.X-rays called mammograms are offered to women between the age of 50 and 71 every three years to check for signs of cancer, but can currently only be performed by female staff.The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has called for a change in policy due to “critical” staff shortages among radiographers who specialise in this area.Sally Reed, 67, who had two mastectomies after mammograms revealed breast cancer, told the BBC that “if something can save your life you should go for it” – whether it’s administered by a woman or man.But Sally also admits women who already don’t want to go for breast screening “would definitely be turned off by a man”.Breast X-rays, which look for cancers that are too small to see or feel, are only permitted to be undertaken by female health workers. Mammography is the only health examination carried out exclusively by female staff.According to radiographers, the vacancy rate among mammographers who specialise in breast exams is 17.5%.Among mammographers who assess women who have found a lump in their breast or have a family history of breast cancer, the figure is 20%. Changes to staffing were being discussed at the annual SoR conference, with discussions also taking place over whether transgender men should be included in the NHS breast screening programme. Sue Johnson, who represents the SoR, told the BBC: “The role of the radiographer has developed and evolved and there is a much b …
