Countess of Chester: Up to 800 women to be breast screened in next eight weeks.

The Countess of Chester Hospital chief executive fears there could be a 'knock- on effect' as hundreds of women prepare to be screened for breast cancer.

It was revealed earlier this month that a national fault had left 450,000 women aged between the ages of 68 to 71 without invitations for their routine breast screening since 2009.

Chief Executive of the hospital, Tony Chambers, said that between 700 and 800 women who failed to receive the invitation will be screened at the hospital over the next eight weeks which could impact on other services.

“It’s going to put quite a bit of pressure [on us], so the managers and clinicians will be looking at this activity and what the knock-on effect might be, whether that’s in respect of pathology, surgical clinics, theatre capacity and so on.

“The divisions are all over this – but it is a worrying time.”

Women aged 70 to 71 will be given a catch up screening whilst women aged 72 to 79 will be given the option to.

All women affected will receive a letter from Public Health England by the end of May.