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Campaign to Improve Breast Screening Uptake in Wales

Paid Oedi Cymru! – No Time to Waste – Wales!

From:[email protected]

Tue 12 Aug 2025 at 12:38

Hi Everyone!

We’re calling on the Welsh Government to improve breast screening uptake in Wales. Read on to find out more about the problem, and how you can help.

We know that breast screening saves lives from breast cancer.  The earlier a breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is for a full recovery.

So, when the latest data from Breast Test Wales showed that the number of women attending their breast screening appointment was below the 70% minimum standard and well below the 80% target, we knew we had to do something.

If the 80% target had been met, 15,871 more women would have been screened, potentially finding 154 more breast cancers. That’s 154 more women who would have better chances and outcomes due to an earlier diagnosis.

The data also showed that only 64.3% of women attended their first screening appointment. We know that women are less likely to attend screening appointments in the future if they don’t attend their first breast screening appointment. This highlights issues around equity, and access to screening services.

What are we calling for?

We want to see the Welsh Government give Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales the support and resources they need to enable them to:

• Deliver a breast screening awareness campaign focusing on low-uptake areas and communities – (so everyone knows the importance of attending their breast screening appointment)
• To provide more convenient and flexible booking options for Breast Screening appointments
• And to improve the data they collect, particularly for minority ethnic and underserved groups – and to publish this data regularly, which so far has provided a big issue in accountability

 We also want these commitments to be part of a new, ambitious, and fully resourced screening equity strategy to ensure women from all communities across Wales have equitable access to breast screening

The campaign

We’re launching a petition calling to the Welsh Government. We need your help to make this petition a success.

If we reach 10,000 signatures, we’ll be considered for a debate in the Senedd.

We want to reach as many people as possible across Wales. This is where you come in!

What can you do?

 Sign the petition – if you’re based in Wales please sign the petition

Share our action – please re-share our campaign across your socials and post wherever you can. You never know who you’ll reach in Wales, and each name is one step closer to a debate in the Senedd!

Share it with your networks:

If you have any Welsh friends, family, contacts – please do share our campaign with them and ask them to pass it on too!

Thank you to everyone who has supported on this campaign so far, or will share, speak about, or sign our petition – every signature is one name closer to a debate, and one name closer to delivering a breast screening campaign in Wales.  

Diolch yn fawr!

 Elaine

Elaine Nicholas
Services coordinator, primary breast cancer (job share)

Breast Cancer Now
Tudor House
16 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJDirect line:02922 80 2899

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