Breast cancer screening is vital for early
diagnosis, yet uptake in London is the lowest in England.
In 2023–24, just 62.8 per cent of eligible women in the capital
attended screening[1], below the NHS's minimum
standard. Persistent inequalities mean participation is lower in
some deprived areas, among certain minority ethnic communities,
and within LGBTQ+ populations, increasing the risk of later
diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
Tomorrow, the Health
Committee will examine why London continues to lag
behind other regions and what can be done to improve uptake.
Members will hear evidence on current NHS activity to raise
awareness, the impact of recent campaigns, and what further
action the Mayor and partners could take. The session will also
consider the delegation of breast cancer screening commissioning
to London's Integrated Care Boards from April 2026.
The guests are:
Panel 1 (10:00 – 10:55)
-
Helen Dickens, Chief Support Officer, Breast
Cancer Now
-
Lee Dibben, Education & Policy Manager,
OUTpatients
-
Leeanne Graham, Advocacy Lead, Black Women
Rising
Panel 2 (11:00 – 11:55)
-
Dr Josephine Ruwende, Consultant in Public
Health; Cancer Screening Lead, NHS England - London Region
-
Zara Gross, Programme Manager – Early
Diagnosis, South East London Cancer Alliance
-
Dr Will Teh, Consultant Radiologist and
Director, North London Breast Screening Service
The final part of the meeting will focus on public health
messaging across the Transport for Londonestate,
examining how TfL's advertising network could be used to support
health awareness campaigns and the constraints created by
existing advertising arrangements.
The guests are:
Panel 3 (12:00 – 12:55)
-
Emma Strain, Customer Director, Transport for
London
-
Nicole Valentinuzzi, Assistant Director of
External Relations, Greater London Authority
The meeting will take place on Thursday 22
January
2025 from 10am in the
Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to
attend.
Notes to editors:
-
AM Chairman of the Health
Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Health
Committee.
- NHS England, London Breast Screening
