Sarah leading the way in boosting breast screening uptake across Cheshire and Stockport

Improving access to breast screening and reducing health inequalities is at the heart of Sarah Howson Probert’s role as Improving Breast Screening Uptake Officer for East Cheshire NHS Trust.

Working as part of the Cheshire and Stockport Breast Screening Service, which is part of the National Breast Screening Programme, Sarah is leading efforts to ensure that more people — especially those from underserved communities — can benefit from life-saving screening.

Working in close collaboration with GP practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), local councils, and community organisations, Sarah raises awareness of the importance of breast screening and breast health, and provides accessible, relevant literature to empower individuals to take an active role in their own wellbeing.

She said: “Improving access to breast screening is about more than just increasing numbers — it’s about making sure everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, feels supported and informed.

“By working closely with GP practices and community partners, we’re helping to break down barriers and empower people to take charge of their breast health.”

Sarah’s approach includes delivering targeted interventions, educational sessions, and exploring reasonable adjustments to make services more inclusive.

In one supported living setting, where three out of four eligible women had missed their appointments, a personalised screening plan was developed. As a result, two women have now attended their appointments, and the third has one scheduled.

Since Sarah took up the role, every GP practice in the area has seen an increase in breast screening uptake, with improvements of at least 10%.

In a targeted initiative in a highly deprived area, 96 out of 290 missed appointments were successfully rebooked, and 43 of those were attended following direct engagement with patients.

For more information about the Cheshire and Stockport Breast Screening Service, visit https://services.eastcheshire.nhs.uk/breast-screening

ENDS

Notes for editors

• For further information about East Cheshire NHS Trust, contact the Trust press office on 01625 663935.
• East Cheshire NHS Trust is the main provider of acute and community health services for people across East Cheshire. The Trust is based at Macclesfield District General Hospital and also manages Congleton War Memorial Hospital and Knutsford and District Community Hospital.
• Follow East Cheshire NHS Trust on Twitter for all the latest news: @EastCheshireNHS
• East Cheshire NHS Charity goes above and beyond standard Government funding to make your local NHS that extra special. From supporting staff health and wellbeing to providing toys to brighten up our young patients’ days to making long stay patients feel more at home – our mission is to make a visible difference. You can make a donation to the charity on JustGiving here.