Meetings

3.2.1 The Committee noted the letter.

The Committee expressed concern about breast cancer screening uptake, noting the importance of ensuring women took up their first invitation, as this was more likely to ensure repeat attendance. Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care seeking further information on:

•       The current utilisation of the 12 mobile screening centres in Wales and whether that could be increased;

•       Data on differences in take-up relating to, for example, socio-economic or age factors;

•       An explanation of the particularly low screening uptake in Ynys Môn;

•       The measures being taken to resource Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales to increase uptake, and to raise public awareness, including whether involving prominent Welsh women has been considered;

•       What account is being taken of lessons learnt and best practice from NHS England’s recent awareness raising work;

•       When will the new screening equity strategy be published and brought to the attention of Senedd Members and the public, and what is being done to involve women of screening age and under-served groups in developing that strategy?

The Committee noted that screening equity extends beyond breast cancer, and agreed to copy the correspondence to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. The petition would remain open pending that response. It was noted there was limited time remaining in the current Senedd term for Members to debate the issue in the Siambr, however individual Members could still highlight its importance.