Breast Cancer (Hansard, 8 April 1998)

§ Mr. Stinchcombe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department will take to remove cash disincentives to breast units achieving breast cancer screening rates of more than 10 per cent. in women aged over 65 years; [38149]
(2) what rate of take-up of breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years current levels of funding can support; [38155]
(3) if the Government makes additional resources available to breast screening units when uptake in the over 65 years age group exceeds 10 per cent. locally. [38539]

§ Ms Jowell
The National Health Service breast screening programme invites women aged 50–64 for screening by mammography every three years, with screening for older women available three-yearly on request.
When the breast screening programme was set up, funding was provided centrally. Subsequently, the money for breast screening was included in general allocations to health authorities and it is therefore for health authorities to make available the necessary resources for this service.

§ Mr. Stinchcombe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the uptake rate for breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years; [38153]
(2) what plans the Government have to increase the uptake rate for breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years. [38148]
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§ Ms Jowell
The Government are keen to encourage women aged 65 and over to request free three-yearly mammograms, and their entitlement to do so is widely publicised. In particular, the National Health Screening breast screening programme is working with Age Concern to encourage older women to request screening. They have produced a leaflet called "65 or over: You are still entitled to breast screening", which is widely available from general practitioners surgeries, clinics, some post offices and some shops. In addition, women who have already been screened through the programme are informed of their right to request free three-yearly screening after the age of 64.
The number of women aged 65 and over being screened has risen from 39,000 two years ago to over 57,000 last year. We are delighted that more and more women are making use of this important service.