Cole-Hamilton responds to breast cancer screening inequalities

Responding to the Scottish Breast Cancer Screening Programme Statistics, which reveal that only six in ten women from the most deprived areas attended their screening between 2020 and 2023, a disparity of 18.6 percentage points compared to those in the least deprived areas, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“These disparities will make for upsetting reading, especially when we know that early diagnosis is key to treating cancer successfully.

“I worry that the Scottish Government’s current model of centralisation, which has failed to invest sufficiently in local services, could only sharpen these inequalities.

“Ministers must pull out all the stops so that everyone eligible for screening programmes is being invited and encouraged to attend. Scottish Liberal Democrats would also roll out a bigger range of cancer specialists and professionals, ensuring that diagnosis and treatment is comprehensive across the country.”