Staff shortages at Oxfordshire's breast screening service have been alleviated and most women are now being seen just two months over the three-yearly time limit.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees the checks at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, said only one of 12 radiographer posts was now vacant, allowing them to see more women every month.

All women aged 50 to 70 are entitled to screening every 36 months. But the Oxford Mail revealed last week that almost 14,000 in the last year had not been given a routine appointment within three years because the department was short of the equivalent of 5.5 workers.

The Government expects at least 90 per cent of 50- to 70-year-olds to be checked every 36 months, while the remaining 10 per cent should be seen within 38 months.

Although the Oxfordshire breast screening service is not likely to reach the three-year target until autumn this year, managers said successful recruitment in the department meant 92 per cent per cent were being seen in 40 months.

In May, only 218 women - about 14 per cent of those due a check-up - had an appointment within three years, 865 (55.8 per cent) were seen by 38 months and 1,445 (93.3 per cent) were seen within 40 months.

But so far this month, 17.3 per cent, 1,675 women, have been seen within the three-year target, 76.3 per cent, totalling 1,278 women, have had their appointment within 38 months, and 1,549 - more than 92 per cent - have been seen within 40 months.

An ORH spokesman said managers at the screening service had decided to reduce the number of women seen during the staff shortages to prevent mistakes being made.

She added: "There is a slight dip in the figures for May, which occurred because we were training the newly recruited mammographers, with June showing a significant improvement.

"The service has plans in place to ensure the time lag continues to reduce so that, by October, at least 90 per cent of women are seen within 36 weeks."

Although breast cancer can strike in younger women, it is most common among women aged 50-70.

Last week, Cancer Research UK said that it was vital that women in this age group were seen regularly so that any disease could be discovered early when it was easier to treat.

Problems at the Churchill Hospital, and its satellite mobile clinic, which tours Oxfordshire, started in June.

The hospital trust said the problems were caused by a national shortage of mammographers. To combat the ORH staff shortages, mammographers are offered a 10 per cent pay premium above the average £27,000 salary.