NHS plea after breast screening rates drop

Breast cancer screening is offered on site at Peterborough City Hospital as well as through mobile clinics in the community

An NHS trust is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a renewed plea for women to attend breast screening appointments after seeing a drop in attendance.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with the NHS offering free screening to women aged between 50 and 70 every three years.

Northwest Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT), which runs Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, issued a reminder for women to be aware of potential signs of cancer.

The trust said research showed that screenings – used to find breast cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel - saves 1,300 women each year in the UK.

NWAFT said between 2023 and 2024, about 15,000 people were invited for screening

NWAFT said, between 2023 and 2024,15,454 people were invited for screening but only 11,340 attended - of which 125 were diagnosed with cancer.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, the percentage of women checking their breasts regularly dropped from 49%, in 2022, to 45 % in 2024. About, 11% of women reported they did not check their breasts at all.

Jo Greene is the trust’s breast screening office manager, based at Peterborough City Hospital – which issues around 20,000 screening invitation letters each year.

She said: “Raising awareness of breast cancer – in women and men – is important, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We would urge anyone who has been invited to attend breast screening to keep their appointment.”

Senior breast care practitioner Nikita Copestake said: “Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes.

“Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes, but remember to check the whole breast area, including your upper chest and armpits. Women with any concerns or changes should contact their GP in the first instance and they will refer to your local breast unit if required.”

As well as on-site breast screening within a hospital setting, mobile screening vehicles also regularly visit Stamford and Rutland Hospital and many other venues within the local community.