Women's Health: Breast Screening Report

Healthwatch Redbridge started a Women’s Health Project in 2024, aiming to engage with and hear from all women about their experience and understanding of women’s health provision in Redbridge and use these insights to influence and affect change. 

The research project has been designed in 3 phases over 2024 – 2025:

• Phase 1: Cervical Screening  
• Phase 2: Breast Screening
• Phase 3: Perimenopause and Menopause 

The Healthwatch Redbridge Breast Screening report is driven by the voices of women in Redbridge who shared the barriers they face. Putting their experiences at the heart of service change is key to building a more compassionate, accessible and culturally competent health and care system.  

Report Findings

Patient experience: Wheelchair users (80%) and Black British Caribbean women (70%) found screening uncomfortable or painful. Learning-disabled participants (75%) described their screening as stressful, nervous, or uncomfortable. Bengali women (25%) reported rushed appointments or past misdiagnoses. 

Translated information: Bengali and Indian women (66.7%) expressed a need for simplified, translated materials to support their understanding of breast screening. Bengali women preferred leaflets in their own language, citing reliance on family members for translation as a barrier. Indian women found translated invites too formal or technical, creating confusion. 

Health literacy: Indian (60%) and Bengali (55.6%) women had never discussed breast screening with family or friends. Confidence in self-examination was low among (44.4%) of carers and Bengali women. Bengali participants (50%) stressed the need for breast screening education across all genders and ethnic groups, while (22.2%) cited cultural barriers, such as stigma, family control, and reliance on in-laws as obstacles to access. 

Provision of information: Wheelchair users (60%) and learning-disabled women (43%) said they had not received screening invites or had their needs recorded. Disabled women (37.5%) and carers (33.3%) found invitation language unclear and complex, while (28.6%) of learning-disabled participants struggled with medical terminology like “fibrous tissue” and other unexplained clinical terms. 

Accessibility issues: Black British Caribbean women faced transport and distance barriers, with 75% affected, while 60% of wheelchair users reported major accessibility issues like non-accessible mobile units or being asked to stand during screening. 

Appointment flexibility and delays: Indian women (55.5%) reported challenges in scheduling, while 40% of wheelchair users cited difficulties due to unsuitable venues and transport. Bengali women (37.5%) raised concerns about location choice and the ability to reschedule. Delays in referral for mammograms after discovering a lump were reported by 20% of Black British Caribbean women, 11.1% of Bengali women, and 18.8% of Indian women. 

Age eligibility: Lowering the minimum age was backed by Indian, disabled, and Black British Caribbean women, with 90% in favour, along with 83.3% of Bengali participants. Removing the upper age limit was also advocated by 66.7% of carers and 60% of disabled women, reflecting a strong preference for access based on individual risk rather than fixed age thresholds. 

Support & emotional well-being: Bengali participants (22.2%), felt the environment was overly clinical and lacking warmth. Meanwhile, 20% of Black British Caribbean women described staff attitudes as dismissive, which impacted their sense of comfort and trust in the service. 

Improve Data Recording: GP practices and screening services should keep better records of women’s support needs, such as preferred language, learning disability, or access requirements.