Breast Cancer Screening: Women Over 70

Baroness Kramer Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds]

The noble Baroness will be aware of the launch of the women’s health strategy. Running throughout that is a real understanding that too many women are not aware of the treatment that is available. There might be all sorts of reasons why they are not coming forward for the screening to which they are entitled. The focus on working locally, spreading information, giving reassurance, and coming up with peer models within communities who can go out and convince women that screening is in their interest are all parts of the rich toolkit available to local health communities.

[Baroness Kramer (LD)]

I am over 71, yet I had no idea until this moment that a self-referral programme was in place—and I have just had a friend in her early 70s go into surgery for breast cancer. How is this message being distributed? I fear that, if I contacted my GP, even the GP would have no idea that self-referral was available.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds]

I declare an interest, in that I am in the same age group. All I can say from personal experience is that, when I went for my last screening, I was informed by the local screening team. This speaks to the point that it is patchy and inconsistent; we need to have a fundamental check around the country to ensure that consistency exists. The noble Baroness has made my point perfectly: too many women are not aware of what is available. That is why we are going to address the needs of women going forward.