Written question WQ83124
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
Will the Minister outline what plans are in place to increase the uptake for (a) bowel (b) breast, and (c) cervical screening programmes?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
The new faecal immunochemical test (FIT) introduced into the Bowel Screening Wales programme in 2019 has increased screening uptake. Uptake continues to increase since restarting the programme after it was paused at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the programme is working to improve uptake further through collaborating with organisations such as Learning Disability Wales to better understand the barriers to participation for individuals with learning disabilities, for example.
To improve uptake in the breast screening programme, Breast Test Wales is evaluating the use of open appointments for women starting the breast screening programme, and introducing a greater number of weekend appointment slots. This will allow women to arrange a mutually convenient appointment, facilitating greater user choice and better utilisation of appointment slots.
Cervical Screening Wales is currently working with health boards on local uptake projects focussing on contacting non-attenders and providing additional screening clinics. In addition, the programme is working with a project team in North Wales working with survivors of sexual abuse to support attendance for cervical screening.