Petition Improve breast screening uptake for women in Wales
Breast screening saves lives from breast cancer. Yet targets for women screened in Wales are being missed. In 2022-23, only 69.5% of women invited for screening attended their appointment - below the 70% minimum standard and the 80% target.
If the 80% target was met, 15,871 more women would have been screened and an estimated 154 more breast cancers detected. Welsh Government must support Public Health Wales and Breast Test Wales to improve breast screening uptake, and address inequalities.
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Welsh Government should commit to improving breast screening uptake in Wales to consistently achieve the 70% minimum standard for uptake and reach the 80% target.
Welsh Government should also commit to addressing inequalities in access to breast screening, which impact minority ethnic communities, those of socio-economic disadvantage and underserved groups. Public Health Wales' Screening Equity Strategy 2022–25 ends this year.
To improve uptake and address inequalities, Welsh Government should support, resource and enable Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales to:
• Deliver a breast screening awareness campaign, focusing on low-uptake areas and communities
• Provide more convenient, flexible routes into breast screening services, including multiple options to arrange appointments
• Improve data reporting and accountability by regularly publishing uptake data, including for minority ethnic and underserved groups
These actions should be included in a new Screening Equity Strategy.
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