Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said:
“Breast screening uptake has met the minimum 70% standard for the first time in five years thanks to the tireless work of NHS breast screening staff.
“Their success in beginning to reverse years of declining attendance should be celebrated; however, with today’s data confirming that there is still significant work to do to save more lives from breast cancer through screening, it’s vital we now build on this progress.
“Based on last year’s figures, had the 80% achievable uptake target been met in 2023/24, a quarter of a million more women* would have undergone routine screening (249,232), and an estimated additional 2,029 breast cancers would have been found.
“It’s also deeply concerning that only 62.5% of women invited for the first time took up their screening appointment and overall attendance varied across screening units, ranging from over 80% to under 55%.
“We know there are many reasons behind women not taking up their screening invite. As such, we’re really encouraged by NHS England’s plans to place particular focus on first time invitees and on reaching women in areas with the lowest uptake, in the national breast screening awareness campaign launched yesterday. This will be crucial to the success of the campaign.
ENDS
Note To Editor
*Breast Cancer Now analysis of NHS Breast Screening Programme, England 2023-24 (NHS Digital). https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/breast-screening-programme/england---2023-24 Calculated by applying the rate of cancers detected per 1,000 women screened from the 50>71 cohort (this published figure includes short term recall invitations and self/GP referrals), to the number of women screened from first and all routine invitations in the 50>71 cohort. Uptake adjusted to the achievable level of 80%.