P-06-1562 Improve breast screening uptake for women in Wales

Petitions4

This petition was submitted by Breast Cancer Now, having collected a total of 4,254 signatures.

Text of petition:

Breast screening saves lives from breast cancer. Yet targets for women screened in Wales are being missed. In 2022-23, only 69.5% of women invited for screening attended their appointment - below the 70% minimum standard and the 80% target.

If the 80% target was met, 15,871 more women would have been screened and an estimated 154 more breast cancers detected. Welsh Government must support Public Health Wales and Breast Test Wales to improve breast screening uptake, and address inequalities.

Additional information:

Welsh Government should commit to improving breast screening uptake in Wales to consistently achieve the 70% minimum standard for uptake and reach the 80% target.

Welsh Government should also commit to addressing inequalities in access to breast screening, which impact minority ethnic communities, those of socio-economic disadvantage and underserved groups. Public Health Wales' Screening Equity Strategy 2022–25 ends this year.

To improve uptake and address inequalities, Welsh Government should support, resource and enable Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales to:

• Deliver a breast screening awareness campaign, focusing on low-uptake areas and communities

• Provide more convenient, flexible routes into breast screening services, including multiple options to arrange appointments

• Improve data reporting and accountability by regularly publishing uptake data, including for minority ethnic and underserved groups

These actions should be included in a new Screening Equity Strategy.

Status

This petition was considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its final meeting of the Sixth Senedd on 16/03/2026, as part of the Committee's review of all petitions under consideration.

Full details of the consideration of this petition by the Committee and related documents can be seen on the Meetings tab above. 

It was first considered by the Petitions Committee on 12/01/2026.

Senedd Constituency and Region:

• Cardiff West
• South Wales Central

[PetitionFooter]