27 March 2026

As breast pain alone isn’t a symptom of cancer (NICE NG12, 2015), these patients don't require an urgent suspected cancer referral. UCLH are running a new weekly breast pain clinic. This is in addition to clinics run by Royal Free London and Whittington Health. Referrers should feel confident that patients with breast abnormalities will be upgraded for imaging. Patients should be seen within 28-days like a suspected cancel referral.

Referral Criteria

  • Inclusion: Mastalgia; patient has no other breast and axilla signs or symptoms (e.g. lumps or nipple discharge), aged 16+.
  • Exclusion: Clinical signs of cancer (lumps, nipple discharge); personal history of breast cancer; breast implants; male or pregnant patients.

How to Refer

  • Form: Use the NCL Breast Pain Referral Form on EMIS (NCL Global Documents > Urgent Suspected Cancer).
  • eRS: Select Surgery – Breast, Clinic Type: Mastalgia (Breast pain).
Return to GP news

Contact the team

Communications Unit
2nd floor central
250 Euston Road
London NW1 2PG

Media enquiries

Email: uclh.media@nhs.net
This inbox is monitored throughout the day and we respond to enquiries as soon as possible.

Out of hours

The normal working hours for the Communications Unit are Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. The only media enquiries that will be answered outside of these working hours are urgent enquiries and those relating to major incidents. To access the out-of-hours service, call the switchboard on 020 3456 7890.