Breast

Screening

Breast cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women in the UK and early diagnosis can lead to better patient outcomes and improved survivorship. Breast screening is one way this can be achieved. The NHS breast screening programme is estimated to save about 1,300 lives from breast cancer in the UK each year by enabling timely treatment.

Key facts about the NHS breast screening programme:

  • Patients registered as female with their GP are automatically invited for breast screening every three years between ages 50 and 70.
  • Patients are usually given a pre-booked appointment date and time but are given advice on how to make changes if the appointment is not suitable.
  • Those 71 and over can self-refer to continue screening.
  • Trans men and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth (who have not had chest reconstruction) remain eligible.
  • Trans women and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth on long-term hormone therapy also qualify.
  • Patients registered as male will not receive automatic invitations. GP practices need to refer eligible patients directly for mammography

Find further information here relating to 👉 transgender and non- binary people.

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Telephone: 0191 282 0202
E-mail: tnu-tr.newcastlebreastscreening@nhs.net
Website: newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/breast-screening/

Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust

Telephone: 0191 445 2554
E-mail: Gan-tr.breast-admin@nhs.net
Website: gatesheadhealth.nhs.uk/services/breast-screening/
Online booking: breast-screening.org.uk/gateshead/

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Telephone: 01642 624261
Email: nth-tr.breastscreening@nhs.net

North Cumbria Integrated Care

Telephone:
Eden site – 01228 814340
West Cumberland site: 01946 523370

If you are unsure which service patients should access, further details can be found here.

Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Now highlight inequalities and disparities in breast screening uptake. Healthcare professionals play a key role in supporting informed screening choices and addressing barriers faced by underrepresented groups.

Improvement activity for breast screening could be focused on the following core activities:

  • Understanding the barriers to screening to help address these concerns in communications and conversations.
  • Understand who non-responders are in the practice. Who is less likely to attend and target interventions to them. Use existing research and intelligence as a starting point (see below).
  • Work with your screening provider to get up to date lists of non-responders to follow-up.
  • Secure and use GP endorsement for breast screening engagement when following up non-responders.
  • Consider different ways to follow up non – responders i.e. text, opportunistic conversation, telephone follow-up and support.
  • Pro – actively promote screening rounds in your patch work with your local Breast Screening team to access the screening round schedule
  • Link into existing community cancer awareness activity and providers.
  • Priming communications and support for first time invitees in underrepresented population groups
  • Be familiar with 👉 reasonable adjustments and adults not brought information.
  • Highlight the accessibility features of different screening locations that support people with learning disabilities
  • Provide screening information in a variety of formats including easy-read and in common languages.
  • Addressing known screening inequalities by supporting both national and regional initiatives to improve screening uptake, including awareness raising campaigns.

Data

Understanding current uptake and coverage data is an important starting point. It helps to establish the baseline position prior to implementing improvements. Sources of breast screening data can be found on 👉 OHID Fingertips (note: the OHID website does not provide real time data. Current data provided is for 2024/2025).

Barriers to participation and under-represented groups

Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Now research has identified both low participation population groups and an overview of the reported barriers to engagement, as follows:

Low screening uptake groups

  • Those invited for the first time or previous non-responders.
  • Younger age cohorts.
  • BAME backgrounds.
  • People living in the most deprived areas.
  • People with physical or learning disabilities.
  • People with severe mental illness.

Reported barriers

  • Accessibility of appointments e.g. due to work or childcare commitments etc.
  • Fear of cancer or fatalism.
  • Lack of understanding about screening being for asymptomatic patients.
  • Cancer stigma within certain cultures.
  • Embarrassment about undressing.
  • Language and health literacy challenges.
  • Cost of travel to the appointment and other associated expenses.

The North East and North Yorkshire Regional Public Health Screening and Immunisation team, has also produced a breast screening health equity report, which highlight similar trends to the above.

  • Northern Cancer Alliance: What to expect at a Breast Screening Appointment – Watch this video filmed at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust for more information about what to expect at a breast screening appointment and learn how the NHS Screening Services can support women from ethnic communities to feel comfortable and safe when attending their appointments.
  • Hear about Kathleen’s experience of attending breast screening and why she would encourage anyone to attend when invited.
  • Addressing patient worries about breast screening
  • Regular self-checks are vital for early detection of breast cancer. Dr Liz O’Riordan, Consultant Breast Surgeon, guides you through the process in a variety of languages in 👉these videos.