The NHS breast screening programme was set up by the Department of Health, based on the recommendations of the Forrest report, which was published in 1986. The programme was launched in 1988 and it undertook to provide free breast screening to all women aged 50-64 years who were registered with a GP every three years.
Breast screening was phased in, with the first breast screening service in the West Midlands opening in 1988 and the last in 1991.
In accordance with NHS Cancer Plan targets, all breast screening services should have been inviting women up to the age of 70 by the end of 2004. |
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