Search

No Time to Waste to Save More Lives from Breast Cancer

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Director of Policy at Breast Cancer Now, Melanie Sturtevant discusses the urgent action needed to ensure more people are screened to help to save more lives from breast cancer.

Melanie Sturtevant

Melanie Sturtevant

Associate Director of Policy, Evidence and Influencing at Breast Cancer Now

Early Detection of Cancer

Guaranteeing breast cancer patients an early diagnosis is fundamental to saving more lives from breast cancer. Yet, the recent report from Lord Darzi into the state of the NHS in England set out just how little progress has been made on improving early detection rates for cancer – with no progress made in diagnosing the disease at stage one and two between 2013 and 2021.

The review highlighted declining attendance at cancer screening programmes as a factor in this early diagnosis challenge facing the NHS. It also revealed that years of under investment in equipment and infrastructure has left parts of the NHS lagging behind in entering the digital era, and others with outdated scanners and little automation.

These worrying issues are playing out in the breast screening programme in England, leaving far too many patients missing out on a vital service that can save lives from breast cancer.

While the Darzi report sets out the overarching challenges that will need to be addressed by the government’s upcoming ten-year health plan, expected in spring 2025, immediate action is needed to tackle the challenges facing the breast screening programme.

Breast Screening Programme Challenges

Breast screening uptake in England was already in long-term decline for over a decade and then dropped drastically during the pandemic. Uptake in 2022/23 (latest data available) is still worryingly below the 70% minimum target (64.6%).

It is also concerning that screening uptake is lower among first time invitees, when we know that those who do not attend the first time are significantly less likely to engage with the programme going forward.

That’s why Breast Cancer Now’s #NoTimeToWaste campaign is calling for a national breast screening awareness campaign in England to encourage everyone who is invited to attend their screening appointment and to complement and amplify work being done to improve uptake locally.

NHS England’s decision to develop a breast screening uptake improvement plan is a step in the right direction, but we want to see that plan and its ambitions published to provide transparency and accountability for delivery of the actions it promises.   

Through our campaign, we’ve been raising awareness of the fact that outdated IT is limiting the efficiency of the breast screening programme, forcing staff to do manual work that should be automated, and making it harder to access data to help improve services. 

While the government’s confirmed investment into the Digital Transformation of Screening is welcome progress, there must be a concrete and ambitious timeframe for rolling out the promised improvements, such as online booking, allowing services to be more flexible and focusing on making screening more accessible.

The Case for Investment

As well as the positive impact that investing in the screening programme brings to breast cancer survival, it also offers huge economic and wellbeing value. 

‘The Cost of Breast Cancer’ report published by the cross-party think tank Demos and Breast Cancer Now earlier this year revealed that increasing breast screening uptake from 2019 levels to 80% across the UK would see savings in both economic and wellbeing costs, in the region of up to £111m and 1.2bn in 2034 respectively. It costs a lot less to treat breast cancers that are found early, which over 90% of screening-detected cancers are.

The Time for Action is Now

The government’s 10-year plan for health and NHS England’s review into its screening services are both critical opportunities to make urgent changes to the way breast screening is delivered, including:

  • The rollout of a national breast screening awareness campaign in England to increase uptake.
  • Establishing a standardised, evidence-based invitation model and follow up process for breast screening services to maximise uptake and reduce inequalities.
  • Integrating all women at increased risk of breast cancer due to a family history, or genetic alteration into the national breast screening programme to improve access to earlier and more frequent screening for these women.
  • Ensuring ring-fenced funding to deliver screening services and investment in screening equipment is protected.

Targets for breast screening being missed means thousands of women will miss having their breast cancer detected each year. If we want to save more lives from breast cancer, this must change. And it must change now.

For more of Curia UK’s insight into healthcare policy, please click here. To become a Health Care, and Life Sciences Research Group subscriber, please email team@curiauk.com.

Share

Related Topics

Latest

Trump’s Ukraine Deal: What It Means for the UK

Donald Trump’s latest diplomatic manoeuvres have sent shockwaves through Europe. With plans for direct peace talks with Vladimir Putin, the former US president appears willing to push Ukraine into territorial concessions. But what does this mean for the UK? From military strategy to diplomatic alliances, Britain now faces a critical test of its role in European security. With NATO unity at stake and Ukraine’s sovereignty hanging by a thread, the UK must decide whether to step up or risk being sidelined.

Labour’s £350 Million Housing Boost: Will It Solve the Crisis?

Labour has announced a £350 million investment to boost affordable housing and tackle rogue landlords. Sir Keir Starmer, in Buckinghamshire, unveiled plans for 100 new towns, calling it the largest housebuilding drive since the post-war era. While welcomed, concerns remain over planning and labour shortages. Will this be a true housing revolution or just a temporary fix?

Video Features

Health and Social Care Reforms: Facing the Challenges, Building the Future

Revolutionising Healthcare Diagnostics: A Call to Arms

NHS & Life Sciences: Harnessing Innovation For Global Health

Screening and Diagnostics: Advancing the Frontiers of Healthcare

Subscribe to our newsletter for your free digital copy of the journal!

Receive our latest insights, future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Never miss an issue by subcribing to our newsletter!

Receive our latest insights and all future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Never miss an issue by subcribing to our newsletter!

Receive our latest insights and all future journals as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Newsletter Signup

Receive our latest insights as soon as they are published and get invited to our exclusive events and webinars.

Newsletter Signups
?
?

We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any third party. Your personal data will be collected and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.