- The new research found almost one in ten women in the North West have avoided a breast cancer screening, despite finding a lump or breast abnormality.
- Nuffield Health Chester, the Grosvenor Hospital, is raising awareness of advancements in breast screening technology, as it announces a major new investment in breast screening technology.
Chester, 14 July 2025: Local MP, Aphra Brandreth, has welcomed a major investment in breast cancer screening and diagnostics at Nuffield Health Chester, the Grosvenor Hospital, saying the move is an important step in improving access to early detection and care for women across the region.
The announcement comes as new research reveals that many women across the UK are putting off breast screenings due to anxiety and fear of discomfort, despite the well-established benefits of early detection.
More than one in ten women (12%) surveyed admitted they had found a lump or abnormality and did not seek medical support. In the North West this number drops slightly to 9%, but is still a significant cause for concern. Among women who have previously undergone a mammogram, 40% reported experiencing pain, while 26% cited anxiety, and nearly 15% expressed concerns about discomfort as reasons for avoiding future screenings.
In response, Nuffield Health Chester, the Grosvenor Hospital, is raising awareness of how advancements in breast cancer diagnostics are helping to overcome these barriers, making the experience more accurate, less invasive, and more comfortable for women.
The hospital, which serves NHS and private patients across the North West and North Wales, has enhanced its breast cancer screening service by investing in advanced 3D mammography technology.
The new Senographe Pristina from GE HealthCare gives a clearer 3D image for faster diagnosis, while using the same low radiation dose as a 2D scan. The machine moves around and adapts to the patient for a more comfortable experience, and comes with the ability for biopsies to be performed with the aid of 3D images during the mammogram. This reduces the need for additional appointments, easing pressure on wait times and leads to faster diagnosis for women.
Local MP, Aphra Brandreth, commented,
“I really welcome this investment in breast screening services at Nuffield Health Chester Hospital, and it’s fantastic to see such a strong and proactive commitment to women’s health here in Chester and across the North West. Early detection is absolutely critical in the fight against breast cancer, and the additional capacity this brings to our region is a real step forward.
“It’s deeply concerning that so many women are avoiding screenings - but after seeing the new technology and speaking with the dedicated team here today, the message is clear: breast screening is now more comfortable, more accurate, and more accessible than ever. There is nothing to fear — and it could save your life.”
Viki Williams, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Chester, the Grosvenor Hospital, said:
“This investment in advanced mammography technology marks a significant step forward in women’s health. By making the screening process more comfortable and less intimidating, we hope to break down barriers that prevent women from attending.
“These machines are designed with comfort in mind – adjusting to the patient, requiring less compression of the breast, and taking images faster. Image quality is improving all the time,
ensuring our consultants can provide accurate diagnosis with greater confidence, and women receive the answers they need sooner.”
“With the NHS under sustained pressure and waiting lists at record levels, we have the capacity and the desire to do more. This investment in our women’s health services will further enable us to work alongside our colleagues in the NHS to deal with rising waiting lists.”
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, with a woman diagnosed every 10 minutes. However, survival rates have doubled over the past 50 years, and nearly 9 in 10 (86%) women now survive for five years or more. This has been driven by earlier detection, improved diagnostics, and advancements in treatment. Despite the benefits of early detection, screening coverage has declined since 2019, with only 64.6% of eligible women attending an NHS screening in 2022-23.
The investment announced today is part of a broader collaboration with GE HealthCare, which will see Nuffield Health invest £200 million in the latest AI-enabled diagnostic imaging technology across its UK hospital network.
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Notes to Editors
The new diagnostic investment announced by Nuffield Health includes the GE HealthCare Senographe Pristina at Nuffield Health’s Cheltenham and Oxford Hospitals, and the Senographe Pristina with biopsy, at the Charity’s Chester, Wessex, and Cardiff Vale hospitals.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Evans – 07872831236, [email protected]
Notes:
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK nat rep. The data was collected between 30.05.2025-02.06.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
- Women were asked whether they have ‘Found a lump / abnormality in your breast that you've avoided having checked out by a healthcare professional’ Those who selected ‘Yes, once’ and Yes, multiple times’ were combined’
- Women were asked ‘How painful or not painful were your previous mammogram experiences?’ Those who selected ‘very painful and somewhat painful’ answer options were combined.
- “Women" here refers to those who had previously stated within the survey that they had not had a breast screening or mammogram, and had not had a breast lump or abnormality checked by a healthcare professional.
- Breast cancer facts | Breast Cancer Now
- NHS England » New breast screening figures prompt fresh uptake appeal
- Underpinning the collaboration is a commitment to sustainable healthcare, with the mammography machines coming with sustainability passports detailing their limited use of rare materials, recyclability, and reduced energy consumption. The collaboration will also drive investment in staff education and elevate the patient experience across Nuffield Health’s hospitals.
About Nuffield Health
For over 65 years Nuffield Health has been a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a healthier nation. We are at the forefront of providing high quality healthcare and fitness support through our network of 36 hospitals and 110 fitness and wellbeing centres. We work as a team to help people achieve your health and wellbeing ambitions, providing high quality hospital care and fitness support, and championing free health and wellbeing programmes in local communities by giving more people the tools they need to live a healthy life. These programmes help people understand and improve their own health, including those living with joint pain and the effects of cancer and its treatment. Find out more about us and our pioneering models of care: https://www.nuffieldhealth.com or LinkedIn.
