Question reference: S6W-10348
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 August 2022
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the specific restart date for the breast cancer self-referral scheme for women aged 71 and over.
Answer
From 29 August 2022, eligible groups of women over the age of 71 will be able to register for self-referral appointments by contacting their local breast screening service.
Invitations will begin issuing to the eligible groups from 26 September, with appointments commencing from 24 October.
At this stage, the eligible groups being prioritised for self-referrals are women aged 71 to 74 (+364 days), and women over 75 with a history of breast cancer who have completed their hospital follow up. This phased approach allows self-referrals to restart in a way we hope will not unduly impact on waiting times for women aged 50-70 for whom screening is recommended.
The impact of the restart on programme capacity and wait times will be monitored closely. At the same time, the programme will continue to look for opportunities to increase the number of available appointments.