Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the number of missed breast cancer screening appointments by women whose employers have not allowed them to attend during working hours; and if will he make a statement.

This information is not collected.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme offers all women in England who are aged from 50 up until their 71st birthday and registered with a general practitioner or resident in an area are automatically invited for screening every three years. Although in some areas women may be invited from the age of 47 as part of the age extension trial.

A timed appointment at a specific screening location and date is offered. If the appointment scheduled is inconvenient, women can telephone to reschedule their appointment. Otherwise, if they do not attend, they will be sent a further timed appointment to attend for screening.