THOUSANDS more Merseyside women will be screened for breast cancer after a £2m cash injection.
Investment in the service is set to dou-ble during the next two years, extending the age group of women tested.
The screening programme currently serves an eligible population of 105,065 women aged 50-70 in Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.
But, by 2012, women aged 47-73 – an additional 33,000 people – will be screened.
Leonie Beavers, Director of Strategic Commissioning for Liverpool PCT, said: “Cancer presents a major challenge in Liverpool and in some areas of the city the number of deaths is 59% higher than that in England and Wales.
“We are determined to cut the number of deaths from cancer by 20% in under 75 year-olds, compared with 2004.”
Further investment will be made in equipment, with the introduction of digital mammogra-phy by 2010, and more NHS staff will be employed to deliver the service.
