BREAST cancer patients in Salisbury will soon be able to access free nipple tattooing as part of their recovery.

The service, launching next month, will be available to women who have had, or are undergoing, breast reconstruction following breast cancer treatment.

Sister Stephanie Fear, one of two nurses who has received funding from Macmillan Cancer Support to run the service, said it would help patients with their physical and psychological recovery.

She will be delivering the service throughout Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire alongside Anne Francis.

Stephanie said: “Both Anne and I are very pleased to be able to offer this new service to our patients, to help them move on with their recovery physically and emotionally, and get back to feeling like themselves.”

Nipple tattooing involves a semi- permanent pigment being injected into the skin under sterile conditions to recreate the areola, the disk area surrounding the nipple.

Stephanie and Anne regularly host Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRAS) events, for breast cancer patients to find out options open to them for reconstruction and hear from women who have already undergone the procedure.

Jane Fortes had breast reconstruction surgery in March 2017 and now volunteers to talk about her experiences at BRAS events. She said: “I can’t say enough good things about the support that Stephanie and Anne have given me. They are amazing and I can’t thank them enough. They were there for me from day one at my first consultation.”

Diana Slade-Sharman, consultant at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said she was “immensely proud” of the transformation to the service.

She said: “Patients’ anxiety levels have reduced and we are able to discharge patients much sooner. Nurse-led clinics have reduced waiting times for follow up appointments and continuity of care has improved dramatically, reducing complications and strain on our emergency services.”

Women considering breast reconstruction, including nipple tattooing, should first ask their GP or breast consultant for a referral to the Salisbury Breast Reconstruction team.