A new worker has been appointed to help improve breast screening rates among Asian women.

Baljeet Sahota has joined Pennine Breast Screening and is encouraging more women to undergo the life-saving breast check the service offers.

She is focusing on two areas of Bradford where screening - a vital tool in the early detection of breast cancer in women aged over 50 - falls below the national target of a 70 per cent take-up rate. Mrs Sahota is meeting other health workers and talking to women's groups in an effort to ensure as many people as possible take advantage of the service, which uses its four mobile units to offer breast screening to women aged 50 to 64 every three years.

Next year, the units are due to screen women who fall into two Bradford catchment areas - Park Road, Little Horton, and Kensington Street, Manningham.

When the service visited those areas in 2000, they had screening rates of 63 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.

It is hoped substantial improvements can be made next year and Mrs Sahota believes her 22 years of experience as a link worker between health services and Asian communities will help her make inroads.

There were some cultural and language barriers - particularly in south Asian communities - that could prevent women from taking advantage of the screening service, she said.

"Women sometimes don't read, even in their own language, and it can be difficult for them to remember their appointment.

"I will be able to ring people to remind them about their screening appointments," she said.

"They also don't feel comfortable with opening up and asking questions. They are not used to this sort of service. They usually go to the doctor when something is wrong with them. They say that they are fine so that there is no point in going for this screening. They don't realise that this is a preventative measure.

"When some women come for screening they want to bring someone from their family. If that person can't make it, they miss the appointment.

"I will be able to let people know that I will be there at screenings to explain what is going on" said Baljeet, who speaks Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.

"Hopefully word will get round that I am there to help people and that will encourage more people to come forward."