Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon & Lewisham leisure centres join National Health Service (NHS) promoting breast screenings in communities, aiming to save lives through early detection.
The ‘Better’ leisure centres are run by the charitable social enterprise GLL, in collaboration with NHS England. The initiative aims to encourage women from ‘hard to reach’ groups to attend NHS breast cancer screening appointments.
Gym instructors are expected to discuss the value of breast screenings with their students, urging them to come when they receive invitations and provide wallet cards with more details.
It has been determined that the pilot locations have a low screening uptake.
This includes women who are younger, reside in more deprived areas, belong to ethnic minorities, have disabilities, or have accessibility concerns.
If the plan is successful, it will be implemented in the fall of 2025 at all Better leisure centers in England.
Joseph Rham, customer and communities director at GLL, said:
“Breast screening has been proven to save lives, yet attendance levels for this free NHS service remain lower than before the pandemic.
We hope that the relationships forged between our fitness class instructors and their groups, will give women the reassurance and confidence they need to attend a screening appointment.”
Caroline Clarke, regional director for the NHS in London, added:
“There are lots of reasons why women may not go to their breast screening appointment, but if 80% of eligible women attended next year, more than 7,500 additional breast cancers could be identified at an earlier and more treatable stage.
For most women, their breast screening appointment will provide peace of mind that they have no early signs of breast cancer, but when you receive your invitation, book your appointment – it could save your life.”
Judy Humphries, a fitness teacher and breast cancer survivor, also contributes her voice to the ad.
The yoga and pilates instructor said:
“As a yoga and pilates instructor for Better, health and fitness has always been my top priority, so it came as a shock when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
However, it can happen to anyone but the earlier it’s found the better your chances of successful treatment.
Therefore, I always encourage women to attend their screening appointment when invited.
It doesn’t cost anything, so show up for yourself and your loved ones by attending the appointment, it could end up saving your life.”
Between the ages of 50 and 53, women in the UK are invited for their first standard mammography. After that, they are invited every three years until they turn 71.
In England, screening is expected to detect cancer in 18,942 women in 2024 and prevent 1,300 deaths annually.
What are the highlights of the campaign?
In order to address the issue of more than 46% of women who are asked for screening not doing so, the NHS wants to increase the number of women who attend breast screenings in England.
By raising awareness of the availability of breast screening services in local boroughs, Lewisham and Croydon are actively taking part in the campaign. Given that London has historically had the lowest acceptance rates in England—just 50.4%—this is especially noteworthy.
To reassure women about the value of screening, public celebrities such as Shirley Ballas, Julia Bradbury, and Victoria Derbyshire are sharing personal anecdotes.
For a wide range of viewers, including those from non-English speaking populations and minority ethnic backgrounds, the campaign features posters, digital screens, and social media content.