Doctor urges women to get breasts checked

Fear may be keeping thousands of women from having free breast screening examinations, a doctor believes.

Only about 50 per cent of women eligible for the free checks - those aged between 50 and 64 - have taken advantage of the national scheme, says Dr Belinda Scott, of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

There are believed to be about 10,000 women in Northland eligible for the examination.

Dr Scott said to prevent deaths the scheme needed to reach the 70 per cent mark.