BRADFORD has the lowest rate of women attending breast cancer screenings anywhere across West Yorkshire, a national survey has revealed.

Latest results of the NHS Breast Screening Programme, published today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, assessed the number of eligible women aged 53 to 70 who had been screened within a three-year period.

Across England, more than 4.3 million women in that age range had attended a screening within the last three years by the end of 2014/15, equating to a rate of 75.4 per cent.

The figure was down from 75.9 per cent in 2013/14, and represents the fourth year in a row that coverage has fallen, down from a peak of 77.2 per cent in 2011.

In Bradford, the rate for 2014/15 was 69.9 per cent, down from 70.1 per cent the previous year.

The figure is the lowest in West Yorkshire and second lowest across the Yorkshire and the Humber - with only Hull at 69.3 per cent worse - and also well below the regional average of 75.5 per cent.

The NHS has set a minimum standard for its cancer screening programmes of 70 per cent.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood, chairman of Bradford Council's Health and Social Care Overview Scrutiny Committee, said she was "very disappointed" at the results.

"I am disappointed, as we have had a particular push on screening programmes, particularly for breast, bowel, and cervical cancers," she said.

"It is common knowledge how important early detection is, so it is a surprise people are still choosing not to go. It is a no-brainer.

"We need to find out the reasons why people are not attending screenings, so I am pleased to hear that public health and the NHS are working together on that.

"We also need to look at local authorities were rates have gone up significantly and take note of what they are doing."

Dr Ian Fenwick, the district’s clinical lead for cancer, urged women to attend screening appointments.

"Breast cancer screening saves lives, whatever age women may be, by finding cancers at an early stage when they are too small to see or feel," he said.

"The older women are, the more likely they are to get breast cancer. One in three women who get it are aged 70 and over, but if it’s detected early, it’s more treatable.

"People of all ages across the district have access to a range of high-quality cancer services which are provided by specialist healthcare professionals.

"But, nationally there has been a downward trend in breast screening uptake over the last four years.

"The fall in attendance is most notable in women receiving their first invitation, and the NHS and public health are working to understand why this might be.

"While our local cancer survival rates for patients are good, it is always important for everyone to be aware of any unusual symptoms and get them checked out by their GP, and to take up any screening invites they receive from the NHS."

Last month, the district's health chiefs said they were "working hard" to improve screening rates, after the charity Yorkshire Cancer Research highlighted the Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which covers the city centre area, as having some of the lowest uptake rates in the country for various forms of the disease.