Fears over breast cancer as almost a third of Salford patients fail to attend screening

Almost a third of Salford patients are failing to accept invitations to attend breast screenings, health bosses say.

Screening invitations are sent out to women aged between 50 and 71 across Greater Manchester but only 69% of women in Salford had accepted their invitation over the past year, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said.

Dr Suzie Carrier, who is part of a team working to increase the uptake in Salford, said that in some parts of the borough these statistics are even more concerning.

Only 48% of patients in Ordsall, where she practises as a GP, had accepted their invitation over the past three years.

“As of July 2024, only 40% of our patients have had a breast screening which we would like to change,” said Dr Carrier.

“We know there are a lot of reasons as to why women wouldn’t want to get a screening but as studies show, earlier detection saves lives.”

The areas with the lowest up-take in Salford tended to be Lower and Higher Broughton, Ordsall and around the Pendleton Gateway area including Langworthy, the trust reported.

The mobile breast screening units, including one located on Pendleton Gateway in Salford, were among the measures being used by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to tackle the issue.

The unit in Salford moves to Irlam and Walkden over the three years screening cycle, the trust said.

All women aged between 50 and 71 and registered with a GP will automatically get an invitation to a breast screening in their local area every three years.

Dr Carrier explains: “During breast screening you’ll have four breast X-rays (mammograms), two for each breast.

“The mammograms are done by a female mammographer who will place your breast onto the X-ray machine and it will be squeezed between 2 pieces of plastic to keep it still while the X-rays are taken.

“This takes a few seconds and you need to stay still. The whole appointment should take about 15 minutes and then your results will be sent in the post.”

She said she wanted to reassure people that staff in the screening clinics were all female and they welcomed anyone who may have concerns to contact the screening unit.

Women in this age range needed to contact their GP or the screening service to book their appointment.