More women attend for breast screening thanks to social media

An NHS project using social media to improve health by boosting digital inclusion has led to a 13% increase in first-time attendances for breast screening in Stoke-on-Trent over four years. The local initiative saw information about screening posted on Facebook community groups, which empowered and enabled women to make appointments by reducing their anxiety around breast examinations. It also allowed them to communicate quickly and easily with health practitioners to ask questions about the screening process. This project is part of NHS Digital’s Widening Digital Participation Programme, which is commissioned by NHS England and aims to make digital health services