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 increase bowel screening uptake in Slough constituency.

Improving cancer services is a priority for the Government. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. Slough is seeing an improvement in bowel screening uptake, although this remains below the national average.

Commissioners and providers continue to work together to address this variation and to ensure that all eligible residents are supported to participate in screening at the earliest opportunity.

The Berkshire Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and local partners have undertaken several initiatives to increase awareness and participation in Slough including:

• a presentation on bowel cancer screening delivered to the Cippenham Carers group;
• engagement with the 50+ Group at Kingsway United Reformed Church, promoting the importance of early detection; and
• a bowel cancer screening awareness poster circulated to general practices in Slough through the Frimley Health communications team.

In addition, Slough Borough Council is actively supporting improvement in cancer screening uptake through communication and training measures.

All partners remain committed to collaborative working to reduce inequalities, strengthen pathways, and support increased uptake among underserved populations.