Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the location of a breast cancer screening site in Merton; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using a breast cancer screening van until a suitable site has been located.

NHS England has made a commitment to improving access to breast cancer screening in Merton. The South West London Breast Screening Services (SWLBSS) have been working with the London Borough of Merton to find a suitable location for an additional centre in their footprint.

Discussions are ongoing, chaired by the London Borough of Merton and attended by the SWLBSS team. A suitable site has yet to be found. Other issues, such as funding and staffing, are being discussed.

Interim measures have been considered, such as deploying a mobile screening van, along with their feasibilities. A number of screening facilities are currently available in neighbouring areas, including at St George’s and Queen Mary’s Hospitals.