WALES’ latest uptake figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge to ensure more women in Wales benefit from vital breast screening, says Breast Cancer Now.

Helen Dickens, chief support officer at the research and support charity, said:

“It’s unacceptable that breast screening uptake has once again fallen short of the 70% minimum standard, (68.5% in 2023/24). And it’s cause for even greater concern that uptake has gone down since last year (69.5% in 2022-23). Shockingly the target has only been met once in the last seven years (since 2017/18).

“Breast screening can detect cancer at the earliest possible stage when treatment has the best chance of being successful. We estimate that had the 80% breast screening uptake target been met, an extra 20,052 women would’ve been screened and an additional 197 breast cancers would’ve been found. Added to this, in our recent report in partnership with Demos, we estimated that meeting this target could have generated an estimated £8-£9 million in economic savings and £78 million in wellbeing gains for women in Wales in 2025.

“Our recent ‘No Time To Waste – Wales’ petition received over 4,000 signatures and urgently called on the Welsh Government to ensure the 70% minimum standard is met consistently and drive progress towards delivering on the 80% target.

“The next Welsh Government must deliver real progress to meet these targets, so women have equitable access to breast screening. They must support and resource Public Health Wales and Breast Test Wales to improve uptake, including publishing a new ambitious screening equity strategy.

“The strategy must commit to a breast screening awareness campaign, provide more convenient, flexible access to breast screening services, and improve data reporting and accountability. Only then will all women in Wales have the best chance to access and benefit from breast screening.”