THOUSANDS more women in the North West attended NHS breast screening last year, leading to more cancers being diagnosed early in the region.
New figures show that in 2024/25, 71.8% of eligible women in the region attended their routine breast screening appointment when invited by the NHS – the highest uptake in the past 10 years.
As a result, more than two thousand (2,362) cancers were detected – 9 cases in every 1,000 women screened – which is an increase of 124 cancers from the previous year.
This means significantly more women were able to access treatment earlier, when there are more options available and treatment is more likely to be effective.
Overall, around 73.2% of eligible women in the North West are now up to date with screening under the programme’s three-year standard, up 2.6% on last year.
Despite this progress, there are still a significant number of women who are not coming forward for the potentially life-saving test.
Across the North West, local screening services are helping to improve uptake, including targeted outreach in lower-attending areas, reminder texts and expanded use of mobile screening units to bring services closer to home.
In Liverpool, a new breast screening mobile unit has opened to improve uptake among women in some of the hardest to reach areas of the city.
Improving Uptake Officers have been introduced in Cheshire and Merseyside and Lancashire and South Cumbria to improve the uptake and accessibility of screening services, working closely with primary care and community groups.
NHS teams in Greater Manchester have created a series of short films to improve the awareness of breast cancer and screening within ethnic minority groups.
Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England in the North West, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that more women are coming forward for potentially life-saving breast screening and that more cancers are being diagnosed earlier.
“We know that many women may not come forward for screening due to fear or embarrassment, but our NHS teams are here to make you feel comfortable and at ease and will guide you through the appointment.
“If you’ve been invited for a free breast screening or missed your last appointment, please do come forward as soon as possible.”
Women aged 50 up to 71 are invited for breast screening every three years, with appointments provided locally through clinics and mobile units.
While most women attending screening will receive peace of mind that they have no early signs of breast cancer, the NHS encourages women to ensure they continue to check their breasts regularly between their screening appointments and to get any unusual changes checked out by their GP.
Find out more about breast screening on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram.
