London behind on breast cancer screening
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 London estate, 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.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
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NHS England, London Breast Screening
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Emma Best AM Chairman of the Health Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Health Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Daniel Zikmund in the Assembly Media Office on 07860647577 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.