A PRIMETIME TV drama cancer plotline has prompted more people to visit Swindon’s hospital with concerns about breast cancer.

The eighth series of Cold Feet saw character Jenny, played by actress Fay Ripley, told by nurses at a routine hospital appointment they have found a lump in her breast.

And bosses at Great Western Hospital say the breast cancer storyline has resulted in a spike in people visiting doctors with concerns about the condition.

Lyndel Moore, head of cancer services, at the Swindon hospital trust said: “This increase is so much so that we are running additional clinics. These one stop clinics provide patients with a mammogram, ultrasound and clinical assessment, and are running into the night and over weekends. We are also working with the local Macmillan GP to ensure that the right people are being referred quickly.”

The latest series of Cold Feet opened on January 14. Figures shared at a meeting of GWH’s board of directors yesterday showed that 324 people had been seen or treated for breast cancer or breast cancer-like symptoms in January.

Jim O’Connell, chief operations officer at GWH, suggested the numbers were continuing to rise.

He said: “We’re keeping an eye on it just to make sure it’s not turning into a trend, but the storyline’s gone on for a while.”

Speaking to the Radio Times earlier this year, Fay Ripley said she had wanted to deal with the emotional cancer story properly, “because so many people I know are affected by breast cancer and cancer in general”.

Ripley, who has starred in Manchester-set comedy drama Cold Feet since it first aired in 1997, added: “We have seen this story with shows but I wanted it to be real. Sometimes it’s going to be funny, sometimes it’s going to be scary. I just want it to be honest.”

Character, Jenny, initially does not tell her husband about the cancer diagnosis.

Ripley said: “It’s maybe not the kindest thing for her husband. In a way it’s her way of saying, ‘I don’t know what to do, because I’ve never had cancer before’.”

GWH’s Lyndel Moore said the hospital often saw spikes in interest after cancer-related storylines featured on TV.

“Recently, Neighbours ran a storyline about ovarian cancer and so we have seen increased gynaecology referrals,” she said.

“Similarly, when Stephen Fry was diagnosed with prostate cancer, this too had a significant impact on referrals.

“We would advise anybody who is concerned to visit their GP and get examined. There is also lots of support or advice online, on the Macmillan website or others similar such as Breast Cancer Care. “

“We would also encourage anybody who has recently been diagnosed, or is concerned the might have cancer, to talk to their families and friends, or visit support groups.”