In January, OUTpatients gave evidence to the committee during a session on breast screening inequalities. Our Education and Policy Manager, Lee Dibben, advocated for various changes to improve attendance for LGBTIQ+ people. We are pleased that the committee has since written to the NHS echoing some of our suggestions, bringing us closer to more equitable screening practices for all.
London has the lowest breast cancer screening rates in England. Even though more people are getting screened than before, it’s still not enough. The Committee wants the NHS to do more to help everyone get screened, especially people who face barriers to care.
One big issue is that standard awareness campaigns don’t reach everyone. For LGBTIQ+ people, the current messaging can be confusing or make assumptions that don’t apply to them. The committee agreed that the NHS should make campaigns that work for different communities. Their letter suggests that the NHS work with community organisations to create messages that speak to all kinds of people.
Another problem is how the NHS system sends out breast screening invites. It relies too much on gender markers that don’t always match people’s identities or bodies. This means some trans and non-binary people don’t get invited to screening, even if they need it. Some other people get invitations when it is not necessary for them.
We suggested that the NHS should use an opt-in model for breast screening (like they do for cervical screening). This way, trans people could ‘opt-in’ for regular invites, making it easier to access this important service. We are very pleased that the Committee agreed with this suggestion, and have included it in their letter.
We welcome the Committee’s recommendations and its understanding of the challenges around LGBTIQ+ access to screening. We are now waiting for the NHS response and will continue working to make screening systems more inclusive and accurate. We hope this will bring us one step closer to ensuring everyone who needs breast screening can access it with clear information, dignity, and confidence.
