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 (2000)targets, all breast screening services extended their age range to include women up to the age of 70.
The Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) outlined a further age expansion to include women aged 47-49 and 71-73. This will be phased in from 2009.
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