Scotland's breast cancer screening programme is meeting all the UK standards for the first time.

Scotland's breast cancer screening programme is meeting all the UK standards for the first time.

Figures released yesterday revealed the proportion of women screened, the number recalled for further testing or monitoring and the rate of cancers detected all hit or exceed the guidelines.

Carol Colquhoun, national screening co-ordinator, said Scotland's women could be assured they were being offered a high-quality service.

However, while meeting the minimum threshold, the percentage of women who take up the breast checks when they are offered still falls short of the 80% target.

In the three years to March 2007 75.7% of women aged 50 to 64 came forward for screening. This compares to 76.4% at March 31, 2006.

Ms Colquhoun said uptake was higher in some regions of Scotland. She said: "You can imagine that, for example, in areas of multiple deprivation it is more difficult for these women to prioritise to attend for breast screening so what we have to do is look at removing any barriers there might be for women taking up the invitation.

"The more women who attend, the more we will be able to reduce mortality from breast cancer in this age group."

Patients whose breast cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage have a much greater chance of survival. The number of cancers detected by screening has risen from 895 in 2002-03 to 1395 in 2006-07, an increase of 55.9%.

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, said: "Screening programmes are a vital part of maintaining public health.

"But their success depends on people coming forward and taking up the invitation to be screened."

The figures, released by the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland, also showed fewer breast cancer patients now need two operations - one to confirm the diagnosis and one to remove the tumour. In the last decade the proportion of cancers confirmed without diagnostic surgery has leapt from 67.7% to 94.7%.