Improving participation in breast cancer screening

As 33% of breast cancer cases are detected through the national breast cancer screening programme, RM Partners is committed to increasing participation in west London.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the approach to inviting patients for screening changed, in order to manage infection control and social distancing. of the impacts of this change was the likely increase in inequalities. This is because certain groups of women are less like to have responded to the new approach to invitation i.e. where they had to ring to make the appointment on receipt of the invitation letter rather than receive a specific time/date. These groups include women who have little spare time, have poor health literacy, and for whom English is not their first language.

RM Partners commissioned a multilingual call reminder service to contact women who have not responded to their invitation. This service will explain the screening process, answer any questions where appropriate, and book an appointment for the patient. The screening service has reported that women booked for screening via this call reminder service were much better prepared for their screening and less anxious, so the appointment was a smoother process.

For more information please contact rmpartners.primarycare@nhs.net or Claire Barry.