The Welsh government has announced a plan to suspend nonurgent outpatient appointments and surgical procedures -- including breast cancer screening services -- in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to an article from County Times posted on 20 March.
The plan follows recommendations from Public Health Wales to stop population-based screening programs temporarily until the acute response to the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Suspended screening programs include Breast Test Wales, Cervical Screening Wales, Bowel Screening Wales, Diabetic Eye Screening Wales, and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Wales.
"We are in unprecedented times and this has been a difficult recommendation for us to make," Dr. Sharon Hillier, director of screening services at Public Health Wales, said in the article. "However, pausing some of the screening programs in Wales will avoid the need for participants to come into contact with others at our screening venues."
The institution said it will review the situation again in eight weeks.
