Jo Churchill MP welcomes improvements to breast cancer screening
Jo Churchill MP has welcomed the news that women in West Suffolk will benefit from better diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer thanks to government investment.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust will receive a new mobile breast screening unit and services upgrades after the government pledged an additional £10 million to provide 29 new NHS mobile breast cancer screening units and nearly 70 life-saving upgrades to services in areas where they are most needed.
These new units and service upgrades will allow more women to be screened earlier improving outcomes for patients. Screening will be focused in areas where it is most needed, tackling health disparities and improving diagnosis rates.
This investment will also help deliver a more accessible NHS where patients receive care close to home.
Jo Churchill MP said:
“I am delighted at this vital investment in a new mobile screening unit and remote access software upgrades. This is a crucial step towards the goal of providing accessible, high-quality breast cancer screening services to our local communities. I know how a breast cancer diagnosis can change your life, making sure women, can access services swiftly is vital for early diagnosis to achieve improved outcomes.
The mobile unit will allow us to extend reach to areas where screening uptake is low, while the upgrades to the existing unit will enable NHS staff to address any issues with scans on-site, reducing travel time to regional centres.
This is a major step forward in our efforts to provide essential services to our community and align with the NHS Long-term Plan. I have long advocated for high-quality local cancer services and this news brings us one step closer to realizing that goal."
Health Minister Helen Whately said:
“A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying but it is vital that this cruel disease is detected as soon as possible and then treated.
“It is also important that women can access high quality healthcare wherever they live and this investment helps deliver that.
“These units mean more targeted services are available on people’s doorsteps ensuring we have the best chance at detecting and treating breast cancer.”
The funding is now in place for NHS trusts to spend within the 2022/23 financial year and the timing for delivery of units will be individual to each trust.
The commitment to provide additional breast screening units was made in the Women’s Health Strategy published in July 2022 which is designed to improve equality of healthcare.
The government has also committed to improving diagnosis, treatment and survival rates as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. By 2028, the government has committed to 75% of people with cancer being diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, up from 55% and for 55,000 more people each year to survive their cancer for at least five years after diagnosis.
Each year more than two million women have breast cancer screening in the UK. Screening saves around 1,300 women every year with around 21,000 cancers detected. This investment in breast screening units will continue to increase capacity to detect and deliver life-saving treatment.
