Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to maintain the symptomatic breast service in Barts NHS Trust after the screening service has been transferred to the new provider.

Any possible reconfiguration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service. It is right that these decisions are led by local clinicians, who best understand the healthcare needs of their local populations, and in consultation with local people.

NHS England have confirmed that the transfer of the breast screening service to the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust will have no impact on the symptomatic breast service at Barts NHS Trust. Women who are found to have a cancer as a result of their screening will follow the same treatment pathways and be treated by their local breast services.