Unmet Needs
Coverage varies considerably across North Tyneside (Table 1) and leaves 19.7%– 39.0% of the eligible women registered with a GP not screened depending on where they live1.
This unmet need is higher for women with a learning disability21 .
Mechanisms for Unmet Need
The breast cancer screening programme is a complex service that operates on a regional footprint and is not routinely part of local primary and secondary care.
GP practices are monitored for their patient cohort’s coverage for breast screening, with data collected for screened in last 36 months (3-year coverage %)1. Given the complexities of the service and its separateness from local healthcare, it is plausible that it does not meet the needs of all those it is intended for. Examples of where there may be unmet needs include:
GP Lists - The NBCSS contacts GP Practices for accurate lists of who is eligible for breast cancer screening and who may need any adjustments. This process may lead to errors in identifying those needing adjustments.
Location – The screening unit has historically been situated in a supermarket carpark. In 2021-22 the unit was moved to North Tyneside General Hospital car park. From July 2023 the unit has been situated in a local leisure centre carpark. These operational changes may lead to barriers emerging for residents who previously had not faced them. However, the current location is in a non-healthcare setting, which is known to increase coverage[21]
[21] Factors affecting screening uptake. Available from: Socioeconomic deprivation, travel distance, location of service, and uptake of breast cancer screening in North Derbyshire, UK - PubMed [accessed 2/6/2025]