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 encourage uptake of the NHS Breast Screening Programme in (a) Penrith and The Border constituency and (b) Cumbria.

The Department and NHS England are committed to the recovery and improvement of screening uptake for breast screening nationally. As part of the Women’s Health Strategy, published in July 2022, £10 million funding was awarded to the NHS breast screening programme. This funding will provide 29 new mobile and static breast screening units as well as upgrades to existing units. Funding is now in place for National Health Service trusts to spend within the 2022/23 financial year

NHS Breast Screening Providers are also being encouraged to work with cancer alliances, primary care networks, NHS England regional teams and the voluntary sector, to bring together work to promote uptake of breast screening and take action to ensure as many people as possible can access services.