To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) what specific initiatives have been considered to improve breast screening uptake; and (ii) whether there are any funding commitments to improve breast screening uptake.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is responsible for ensuring that all eligible women in NI can make an informed choice about attending for breast screening and that the service is as accessible as possible. The uptake rate for routine breast screening in Northern Ireland, for those invited, meets the national acceptable standard of greater than, or equal to 70.0%, as set out in the NHS Breast Screening Programme screening standards.

PHA works in partnership with other stakeholders to raise awareness of the breast cancer screening programme and to promote informed choice. Specific initiatives include the following:

the PHA chairs a regional group with representation from all Breast Screening Units in the region and Trust health promotion staff. The remit of the group is to identify opportunities to promote informed choice in the Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme (with a particular focus on women from disadvantaged communities; women who have learning/physical/ sensory disabilities; women from minority ethnic groups; older women and other women considered to have special needs); to identify and share good practice; and to advise on the provision of information to the public and health care professionals;

the PHA breast screening team includes standalone meetings related to promoting informed choice in breast screening in the Quality Assurance (QA) visits to breast screening units;

the PHA collaborates with Health and Social Care Trusts to ensure that comprehensive, up to date, information on screening is available on their website.

the PHA currently commissions the Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), a local not-for-profit community organisation, to raise awareness of the Breast, Cervical and Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes and to promote informed choice among individuals from communities and populations with historically lower cancer screening uptake rates compared with the general population. The aim of the WRDA’s programme of work is to provide individuals with sufficient information to enable them to make an informed decision about participating in cancer screening programmes. The WRDA recruit, train and support Peer Facilitators to deliver Educational Awareness Sessions to targeted service user groups, including; people from deprived areas, those from ethnic minorities, those from the LGBT+ community, homeless individuals and those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or mental health issues. WRDA also carry out Bespoke Workshops for those latter groups with additional support needs.

In relation to working with charities to improve breast screening uptake, I can advise that during February and March 2025, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) ran a multimedia campaign to promote the three NI cancer screening programmes. The PHA worked closely with CRUK to develop this campaign. In addition, the PHA is working with Breast Cancer Now and the Rainbow Project to promote informed choice.

There are no specific funding commitments to improve breast screening uptake.