According to the latest NHS England figures, a record number of women are up to date with their breast screenings. However, many of those invited are still not attending their appointments
The NHS’s annual data reveals that a record number of 4.61 million women are now up to date with their breast screenings, having been screened within the last three years.
Encouraging women to go to their breast cancer screening
This marks the highest figure ever recorded for breast screening participation. Despite this progress, nearly 750,000 women (748,233) did not attend their screening appointments during the 2023-24 period, with almost a quarter of first-time invitees choosing not to respond to the invitation.
The NHS launched its first-ever national campaign earlier this week to encourage more women to attend their screening. Supported by Breast Cancer Now, the campaign includes a TV, radio, and online advertisement to raise awareness of the benefits of early breast cancer detection.
The advert emphasises that screening can catch cancers early, providing peace of mind to many women who receive the all-clear and saving lives by detecting cancers in their early, more treatable stages.
The campaign features a range of well-known figures, including BBC Newsnight anchor Victoria Derbyshire, broadcaster Julia Bradbury, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas. These celebrities, alongside cancer survivors, NHS staff, and TV doctors, share personal letters addressing women who have been invited for screening. Their messages are designed to reassure and encourage women to attend their appointments, highlighting the life-saving benefits of early detection.
Thousands of women still missing screening appointments
The recent NHS data also reveals a notable improvement in breast screening uptake, with 70% of women invited for screening in 2023-24 attending, up from 64.6% in the previous year.
This is the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic that the NHS has met its acceptable target for breast screening participation. While the figures are encouraging, the uptake is still below pre-pandemic levels, which saw 74.6% of eligible women participating.
Over the last year, around 2.5 million women were invited to a breast screening, with 1.75 million accepting the invitation. However, the remaining 30% chose not to attend, and among first-time invitees, the non-attendance rate increased to 37.5%. This shows the NHS’s ongoing challenge in encouraging more women to participate in the screening program.
The benefits of attending breast cancer screening
In 2023-24, nearly 70,000 women were referred for further checks after their screening, leading to the early detection of 16,677 cancers. Of these, 79% were invasive cancers that might not have been detected until a later stage, making them more difficult to treat. Early detection through breast screening gives women the best chance of successful treatment and can ultimately save lives.
In the future, the NHS is aiming to increase breast screening attendance to 80% by 2025-26. If this target is met, an estimated 925,000 additional women would be screened, potentially detecting over 7,500 more cancers at an earlier stage when treatment is more effective.
Breast screening is available to all women registered with a GP between the ages of 50 and 53, with follow-up screenings every three years until the age of 71. Women aged 71 and older can also self-refer for screening.
As the NHS continues its efforts to encourage more women to attend breast screening, it is clear that increasing participation in the program is crucial in saving lives and improving outcomes for women across the country.
