MORE than 3,000 women invited for a breast screening in St Helens did not attend in 2023, as new figures show many turn down the potentially lifesaving offer.

NHS England figures show 6,630 of the 9,645 people invited for a screening in the former NHS St Helens CCG area had a test in the year to March 2023.

It meant uptake of the screening stood at 69% – up from 68% the year before, but below pre-pandemic levels of 74% in 2019-20.

The figures show breast screening uptake across England increased to 65% last year from 63% in 2021-22. However, it remained well below pre-pandemic levels when 70% was recorded.

In 2022-23, a total of 1.93 million women aged 50 to 70 (64.6%) attended screening appointments nationally (within six months of invitation) out of the 2.98 million invited to book a check-up – an increase in uptake on 2021-22 (62.3%).

However, 35.4% of women did not attend their appointments following an invitation, increasing to 46.3% of women who were being invited for the first time.

The screening programme led to cancers being detected in 18,942 women across England in 2022-23, which otherwise may not have been diagnosed and treated until a later stage.

NHS England is calling for women to put their health at the top of their to-do list and come forward for breast screening when invited. The call comes following a major £70m Government investment in the Digital Transformation of Screening initiative to modernise screening services over the next three years.

The breast screening service will be one of the first to benefit, with an ambition to provide more tailored communications and more booking options for women, including online and call centre booking. This will make it easier than ever before for women to book and manage their appointments.

Published by NHS England, the NHS Breast Screening Programme, England 2022-23 report also found that uptake was highest in the South East at 68.0% and lowest in London at 55.4%.

Miss Leena Chagla, Consultant Surgeon and Lead Clinician for Breast Services at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Breast cancer screening has shown to save lives but sadly the uptake by women in our area is just under the target of 70%.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer today worldwide, and the risk increases with age, but it also has one of the highest survival rates, thanks to Breast screening and the advances in treatment over recent years.

“We know lives are saved when cancers are caught early and breast screening helps so I would urge you to attend your screening appointment as this could save your life.’’

Dr Louise Wilkinson, Consultant Radiologist and National Specialist Advisor for Breast Screening at NHS England, said: “Around one in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and detecting it at an early stage helps give people the best chance of successful treatment.

“Today’s figures show that 18,942 women were diagnosed and able to seek treatment because they attended breast screening check-ups last year. We know that lives are saved when cancers are caught early. I know life gets busy, but I would urge anyone who has received a breast screening invitation - even if you received the invite weeks or months ago – to put your health at the top of your to-do list and book an appointment at your local screening service or mobile unit. It could save your life.”

A woman’s risk of getting breast cancer goes up as they get older, with around four out of five breast cancers found in women over 50 years old.

Under the NHS Breast Screening Programme, eligible women will usually receive their first routine invitation for breast cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and will normally be invited every three years until their 71st birthday.

NHS England is also asking women of all ages to be aware of their breast health and to know how to check themselves for cancer symptoms. Being ‘breast aware’ means getting to know how your breasts look and feel at different times and telling your doctor straight away if you notice any unusual changes.

It takes only a few minutes to perform and can help detect breast cancers at an earlier stage.

It is important that women continue to look at and check their breasts regularly, even if they have had a recent mammogram. Anyone who has noticed any abnormal changes should contact their GP as soon as possible.

Women are encouraged to use the ‘TLC’ method for checking their breasts and can visit Breast Cancer Now for more information: TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything new or unusual?

LOOK for changes. Does anything look different?

CHECK any new or unusual changes with your GP.

More information on NHS breast screening checks is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-screening-mammogram.