HEALTH chiefs in Bradford say they are "working hard" to improve screening rates for cancers, after a conference heard the city had the worst rate in the country for one form of the disease.

According to Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR) only 35.7 per cent of invited 60 to 69 year-olds within the NHS Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) took part in a bowel cancer screening programme over a 30-month period to 2014.

The rate was the lowest anywhere in England, and well below the national average of 58.3 per cent.

Bradford City CCG also had the third-lowest breast cancer screening uptake rate in England over a three-year period, with 54.7 per cent of invited women aged 50 to 70 taking part, compared with the national average of 72.2 per cent.

The percentage of women aged 25 to 64 within the City CCG accessing cervical screening programmes was 62.5 per cent, lower than national average of 74.3 per cent.

YCR has previously identified distinct problems within pre-dominantly Asian communities that are worse than those affecting other groups of society, including lower participation rates in screening programmes for bowel, breast, and cervical cancer, and higher levels of diagnosis with emergency presentations, when cancer is detected at a late stage and more difficult to treat.

The figures were one of the topics discussed by a "cancer taskforce" brought together for the first time in Yorkshire by YCR to help draw up a new strategy to tackle two of the region’s biggest problems, the early diagnosis of cancer, and lung cancer, the region's biggest cancer killer with 3,651 deaths in 2013.

In August last year, YCR invested £5 million in a five-year programme of research to address cancer inequalities in the region, and the taskforce, which included clinicians, researchers, and representatives from CCGs and Public Health England, met to discuss ways of steering the charity’s spending during 2016.

Phil Hargreaves, health protection senior manager for Bradford Council, said: "In Bradford, we have been working hard to improve the screening rates for cancers where there is an evidence base that it is effective.

"Whether it is bowel, breast, or cervical cancer screening, it's vitally important that anyone invited takes the tests as it could potentially save your life.

"We're working with Cancer Research UK, GPs, and the NHS to ensure people are aware of why it is important to take part."

A spokesman for the Bradford City and Bradford Districts CCGs said it was important for people to take up any screening invites received from the NHS.

"We have a range of high-quality local cancer services that people of all ages can access, and we know that a combination of factors, including early diagnosis, fast-track treatment and excellent support services – all things we have available locally - can increase people’s chances of surviving cancer," he said.

"In addition to the national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaign, the CCGs continue to promote cancer awareness at every opportunity, and City CCG is focusing on improving uptake of bowel and cervical screening.

"We are also working very closely with our colleagues in NHS England and local public health to improve uptake."

Charles Rowett, chief executive officer at YCR said more investment was needed to begin to close the gap between cancer outcomes in Yorkshire and the rest of the country.