Breast cancer screening rates in Scotland have continued to fall, new figures show, with four health boards failing to meet minimum acceptable levels.

A total of 71.2% of eligible women attended for routine screening in the three years covering 2015-16 to 2017-18.

That is down from 71.7% in the previous three-year period, and lower than than 74.9% achieved in 2008-9 to 2010-11.

Four health boards - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Lothian and NHS Fife – failed to meet the minimum acceptable uptake standard of having at least 70% of women aged between 50 and 70 years old take part in screening.

In Glasgow, where the rate was lowest, fewer than two thirds (65.8%) of women attended, the most recent figures revealed.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman welcomed that “uptake rates continue to exceed the Healthcare Improvement Scotland clinical standard for uptake of 70%”.

She added: “To ensure we keep pace with increasing population and changes in technology and lifestyles, a new review of breast ­screening will look at everything

from invitation processes, technology and future requirements to further increase uptake of screening.”