Huge bowel cancer screening inequality in new SNP Health Secretary's area
Some areas of West Lothian, which includes Angela Constance’s Almond Valley constituency, have nearly 30 per cent lower uptakes than others.
The SNP’s new Health Secretary has been criticised after it emerged there are huge “inequalities” in bowel cancer screening uptakes in her local council.
Some areas of West Lothian, which includes Angela Constance’s Almond Valley constituency, have nearly 30 per cent lower uptakes than others.
The figures, highlighted by Labour MP for Livingston Gregor Poynton, showed that people living in the most deprived communities in West Lothian have a screening uptake rate of just 53.1 per cent.
This was 21 points below the wealthiest communities on 74.8 per cent.
Trend data supplied by Public Health Scotland suggests inequalities are not improving.
Uptake in the most deprived areas actually fell from 54.9 per cent to 53.1 per cent in the latest reporting period.
Mr Poynton said: “These figures are shocking and should ring alarm bells right across government.
“We now have clear evidence that where you live in West Lothian and across Scotland can have a major impact on whether you take part in potentially life-saving bowel cancer screening.
“In some communities, almost half of eligible people are not returning their screening kits. That risks cancers being detected later, when treatment is harder and survival rates are lower.
“What is particularly concerning is that the inequality gap is not narrowing, in some cases it is getting worse.
“No one’s chance of surviving cancer should depend on their postcode or income.”
The Freedom of Information (FOI)Request showed some communities in West Lothian have bowel screening participation rates barely above 50 per cent, despite screening being one of the most effective tools for catching cancer early and saving lives.
The Craigshill area of Livingston had uptakes of just 50.7 per cent.
Whereas in Linlithgow Springfield the uptake was 79.3 per cent
Overall bowel screening uptake across West Lothian was at 64.1 per cent.
The statistics also shedw younger people and men are significantly less likely to participate in screening.
Among men aged 50-54, uptake is only 55.9 per cent, compared to 72.0 per cent among women aged 70-74.
Mr Poynton has written to Ms Constance calling for urgent action.
He has asked the Scottish Government to outline what targeted interventions are being put in place in lower-uptake communities and whether additional outreach work and investment will now be prioritised.
Mr Poynton said: “Screening saves lives, but only if people are able and supported to take part.
“The SNP Scottish Government must now explain what it is doing to close these inequalities and improve uptake in communities where participation remains stubbornly low.
“This cannot simply be accepted as normal. These disparities are a public health failure and ministers must act.”
Ms Constance had been justice secretary before the election, but her and former health secretary Neil Gray have swapped roles.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said:
“I strongly encourage anyone invited for screening to take up that invitation to ensure any early signs of cancer can be detected.
“We are removing any barriers to participating in bowel screening by working with the NHS to make it more accessible to everyone who is eligible.
“We provide £1 million every year for local and national projects that aim to address inequalities across the cancer screening programmes.”
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