Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps has he taken to encourage those invited for a breast screening to attend in (a) Slough and (b) England.

The Thames Valley Cancer Alliance has identified East Berkshire and Slough as a priority area for improving the uptake of breast screening. They are working with Public Health England (PHE) and local communities to develop specific approaches to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and attending screening appointments in these areas.

The approaches include providing information in multiple languages that focus on dispelling misconceptions about cancer; offering female-only appointments to support cultural sensitivities; and collaborating with charity partners to deliver cultural sensitivity training to improve communications with diverse populations. There has also been a focus on supporting improved uptake for those with learning disabilities through the provision of longer appointments, easy to read and pictorial communications, and ensuring learning disability is recorded within the patient’s care record. Evening screening appointments have also been offered to improve access for working women.