Almost 12,000 women across the UK could have undiagnosed breast cancer after missing out on screening due to the pandemic.
Breast Cancer Now is warning that almost 1.5 million fewer women had breast screening between March 2020 and May 2021 when compared with pre-pandemic levels. Disruption to NHS services has been caused by a variety of factors, including screening being paused at the height of the pandemic and fewer women being referred to specialists with possible symptoms of the disease.
The Royal College of Radiologists said breast screening teams are now trying to fit two years’ worth of appointments into one year.
Dr Jeanette Dickson, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, said: “Breast services, including screening, are working flat out to make sure patients are seen as quickly as possible, and we cannot urge people enough: if you have any worrying symptoms, please seek help from your GP. If you are given a screening appointment, please take it.
“But breast imaging and treatment services were massively under-resourced even before the pandemic hit. Now, screening teams are trying to fit two years’ worth of appointments into one to catch up with a backlog of millions, while struggling with long-standing staff shortages and woefully substandard facilities, as well as slower working due to Covid restrictions.”
An NHS England spokeswoman said: “The pandemic has inevitably meant that some patient services have been disrupted, which is why the NHS in England is investing more than 70 million in additional funding for screening capacity, so people can get the checks they need.
“Extra weekend and evening clinics will help every woman who needs a screen to access one.”
