Breast Cancer: Screening
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for women aged over 50 to receive a mammogram.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
NHS England is committed to providing equitable access to breast screening services for eligible women aged 50 years old and over across the country, including in West London.
In West London, women aged 50 to 70 years old are invited for breast screening every three years as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme, to the screening sites at the West of London Breast Screening Service (WOLBSS). There has been a surge in demand recently, following the disruption caused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address the increased demand for screening services post-COVID recovery, NHS England is working with the WOLBSS to improve appointment availability. This includes extending clinic hours, offering weekend clinics, investing in workforce recruitment and training, and targeting areas with lower screening uptake.
The information requested on average waiting times is not held centrally for screening mammograms.
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