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Written question asked by Iris Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 23 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 May 2006. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Thursday, 8 June 2006 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Breast Cancer

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women failed to attend their first breast screening tests in each of the last three years; what the take-up was of the second offered screening in each year; and what age group was most likely to miss their first appointment in each board area in each year.
Answer

The following tables show how many women in Northern Ireland during 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05, who (A) failed to attend their first breast screening appointment; (B) attended their second breast screening appointment having not attended their first appointment (C) attended both their first and second breast screening appointments.The vast majority of women who receive a first invitation to breast screening are in the 50-53 age group. In 2004-05, 91 per cent. of the eligible population in Northern Ireland had been invited to a first screening appointment by their 53rd birthday.

(A) First invitation to first breast screening appointment (routine) by Health Board of Residence
Health Board Number invited Number not screened Percentage not screened
2002-03 Northern 2,376 520 21.9
2002-03 Eastern 3,914 1,348 34.4
2002-03 Southern 1,782 497 27.9
2002-03 Western 1,608 470 29.2
2003-04 Northern 2,955 548 18.5
2003-04 Eastern 3,983 1,320 33.1
2003-04 Southern 2,632 672 25.5
2003-04 Western 2,089 468 22.4
2004-05 Northern 1,899 410 21.6
2004-05 Eastern 4,543 1,381 30.4
2004-05 Southern 1,314 325 24.7
2004-05 Western 1,567 375 23.9
Source: Quality Assurance Reference Centre.
(B) Routine invitation to women who had previously not attended a previous breast screening appointment by Health Board of Residence
Health Board Number invited Number screened Percentage screened
2002-03 Northern 993 257 25.9
2002-03 Eastern 3,179 575 18.1
2002-03 Southern 1,059 212 20.0
2002-03 Western 779 117 15.0
2003-04 Northern 1,067 268 25.1
2003-04 Eastern 3,132 565 18.0
2003-04 Southern 1,316 289 22.0
2003-04 Western 807 152 18.8
2004-05 Northern 800 206 25.8
2004-05 Eastern 3,029 621 20.5
2004-05 Southern 658 157 23.9
2004-05 Western 764 153 20.0
Source: Quality Assurance Reference Centre.
(C) Routine invitation to women who had previously attended a breast screening appointment by Health Board of Residence
Health Board Number invited Number screened Percentage screened
2002-03 Northern 6,042 5,608 92.8
2002-03 Eastern 9,262 8,004 86.4
2002-03 Southern 4,560 4,064 89.1
2002-03 Western 3,896 3,471 89.1
2003-04 Northern 7,944 7,379 92.9
2003-04 Eastern 9,924 8,723 87.9
2003-04 Southern 6,463 5,860 90.7
2003-04 Western 5,586 5,101 91.3
2004-05 Northern 4,568 4,167 91.2
2004-05 Eastern 10,746 9,535 88.7
2004-05 Southern 3,755 3,412 90.9
2004-05 Western 3,909 3,559 91.0
Source: Quality Assurance Reference Centre.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
74219; 447 c792-3W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Breast cancer Screening
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk