Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) standards and (b) requirements breast screening centres must meet to provide reasonable adjustments and supportive equipment for women with limited mobility.
The Scottish Breast Screening Service is committed to improving accessibility and ensuring as many eligible women as possible can participate in breast screening. Guidance, developed and issued by Public Health Scotland, is followed by all health boards to ensure all reasonable measures are taken to enable women with limited mobility to attend their screening appointment. This guidance supplements the Healthcare Improvement Scotland breast screening standards, published in 2019, and the 2010 Equality Act Public Sector Duty.
Screening invitation letters request that women who require additional access or support should contact the breast screening centre in advance of their appointment to discuss their requirements and what adjustments would be appropriate so that they can attend their appointment. Once a participant has made the breast screening centre aware of additional requirements, this can be recorded to ensure appropriate support is allocated in future invitations, such as extended appointment time, or hoist access into a mobile unit.
It is important to note that all women, including those who are physically unable to have a mammogram, should speak to their GP if they are concerned about possible signs of breast cancer. If a woman does have symptoms, she should be referred for assessment at a symptomatic clinic.