Low uptake for breast screening appointments

Women are being encouraged to attend breast screening appointments as figures show a low take-up of the service.

Humberside Breast Screening Service said its mobile van had visited locations in East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

The NHS trust behind the service said that in some cases, surgeries were seeing take-up as low as 6% in women aged 50 to 53, with women from black, South Asian and eastern European communities less likely to attend.

Lesley Peacock, the programme manager for the service, said the screenings could mean "the difference between life and death".

She said: "The women with poorer outcomes are those women who don't come along for their screening appointment.

"So, we're hoping women unite to attend their own appointments and encourage their friends, their workmates and their family members to come along for screening."

Ms Peacock added that although breast cancer was the second highest cause of cancer deaths in women, screening showed up problems early.

Women receive letters asking them to attend their first breast screening appointments around their 50th birthdays.

They will then be asked again every three years until their 71st birthdays.

The Humberside service's van has recently been to Bridlington Hospital and Lakeside Retail Park, Scunthorpe.

It will soon visit Holme-upon-Spalding Moor village hall, Hull Royal Infirmary and St Hugh's Hospital, Grimsby.

What happens during your screening appointment?

• Once inside the van, your details will be checked by the screening team and you'll be shown to a cubicle to remove clothes from your top half, including your bra
• A female mammographer will take you to the X-ray room and position you in the machine, before asking you to stay still while the image is being taken
• Two pictures of each breast will be taken, and although you may feel slight discomfort as the plate holds the breast tight, this is to ensure a clear image is produced
• The screening will be over in a few minutes and then the results will be sent by post within two weeks

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