Demands on surgical inpatient services after mass mammographic screening

The changes in the demand for surgical inpatient care created by mammographic screening for breast cancer were analysed by comparing two counties, one with and one without a mass screening campaign. A comprehensive computerised register of inpatient care in the region was used. The results indicate that population based screening offered to women above 40 years and repeated every two to three years will increase the number of operations required for breast cancer and inpatient days by at least 150% during the initial screening round. During the second round the figures tend to return to previous levels. Of decisive importance for the demands on health service resources are the specificity of screening, the duration of the first screening round, and the age groups included.