PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
BREAKTHROUGH BREAST CANCER'S SCREENING SAVES LIVES CAMPAIGN (27 November 2006)

That this House recognises the tremendous work of radiographers and other NHS staff in making the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which saves 1,400 lives a year, so successful; notes that in line with the recommendations of experts the NHS Breast Screening Programme aims to screen women aged 50 to 70 years once every three years but, in reality, too many women are forced to wait longer; further notes that the main reason for these delays is often a lack of capacity in the NHS Breast Screening Programme; further notes that there are a growing number of women becoming eligible for breast screening, and that the Government expects this increase to peak in 2015, resulting in a 20 per cent. increase in women aged 50 to 70 years, in England, between 2005 and 2025; further notes with interest the recent findings of a MORI poll which revealed that 90 per cent. of women over 70 years have never requested a breast screening appointment; further notes that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Forrest report which led to the founding of the NHS Breast Screening Programme; and urges the Government to back Breakthrough Breast Cancer's Screening Saves Lives campaign to improve the effectiveness of the screening programme, review the process for self-referral for women over 70 years and ensure that the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review allows the NHS Breast Screening Programme to meet the demographic challenge it faces.

Sponsored by:
Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Labour)