Fitness instructors enrolled in breast cancer screening drive
Leisure centre operator GLL has teamed up with NHS England for an innovative new pilot scheme, designed to encourage more women from ‘hard to reach’ groups to attend breast cancer screening appointment.
Fitness class instructors based at Better leisure centres in Lewisham and Croydon, which are operated by GLL, are being given guidance on talking to their classes about breast screening and encouraging women to attend when they receive their NHS screening invitation.
The instructors will also give out wallet cards with further information that women can take away.
The pilot boroughs have all been identified as areas where the uptake of screening is low. Younger women, women living in areas of higher deprivation, women from ethnic minorities, disabled women and those with accessibility issues are all less likely to participate.
The pilot project will run for four weeks and is part of a wider national NHS breast screening awareness initiative that includes broadcast and print advertising and social media campaign. If successful, it is anticipated that scheme will be rolled out to all Better leisure centres across England in the Autumn.
Joseph Rham, customer and communities director at GLL, said: “Breast screening has been proven to save lives, yet attendance levels for this free NHS service remain lower than before the pandemic.
“We hope that the relationships forged between our fitness class instructors and their groups, will give women the reassurance and confidence they need to attend a screening appointment.”
Caroline Clarke, regional director for the NHS in London, added: “There are lots of reasons why women may not go to their breast screening appointment, but if 80 per cent of eligible women attended next year, more than 7,500 additional breast cancers could be identified at an earlier and more treatable stage.
“For most women, their breast screening appointment will provide peace of mind that they have no early signs of breast cancer, but when you receive your invitation, book your appointment – it could save your life.”
Breast cancer survivor and fitness class instructor Judy Humphries, said: “As a yoga and pilates instructor for Better, health and fitness has always been my top priority, so it came as a shock when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“However, it can happen to anyone but the earlier it’s found the better your chances of successful treatment. Therefore, I always encourage women to attend their screening appointment when invited.
“It doesn’t cost anything, so show up for yourself and your loved ones by attending the appointment, it could end up saving your life.”
Women in the UK are invited for their first routine mammogram between the age of 50 and 53, with further invitations every three years until they reach 71. It is estimated that screening prevents 1,300 deaths each year and identified cancers in 18,942 women in England in 2024.
Picture: GLL