Jim Shannon highlighted the devastating impact of breast cancer, stating that approximately 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed annually in the UK. He emphasised the importance of early screening to improve outcomes and reduce mortality rates, noting a backlog of nearly one million women awaiting screening due to pandemic-related disruptions. Shannon also expressed concern about staff shortages and increased demand on diagnostic services, urging for more dedicated resources and a long-term strategy from the government. Ladies may not be attending screening due to fear of catching covid-19 in hospitals. The concern has been raised with women at home.

The MP thanked the hon. Member for High Peak for securing the debate, discussed the importance of breast cancer screening despite recent setbacks like temporary halting of mobile services in some areas, highlighted statistics showing 3 million people waiting for various screenings, noted a backlog of nearly 1 million women requiring breast screening and an estimated 8,600 undetected cases among them, raised concerns about open invitations strategy potentially worsening the situation, questioned measures to ensure uptake among those invited, mentioned workforce shortages including mammography staff vacancies at 15%, and called for urgent publication of a long-term workforce plan with costed actions.

Ms Richards expressed concern about the number of breast cancer cases in her constituency and across England, noting that only 67.5% of women aged 50 to 70 are invited for screening within six months compared to the national average of 72.4%. She highlighted issues with workforce constraints and equipment availability as barriers to implementing recommendations from Professor Sir Mike Richards' review. Additionally, she raised concerns about the impact of the pandemic on screening backlogs and called for measures to encourage attendance among vulnerable groups.

He thanked the NHS staff and cancer charities for their efforts during the pandemic. He highlighted the challenges of meeting demand for breast cancer screenings due to infection control measures, space limitations, and staff shortages. According to Breast Cancer Now, nearly 1 million women missed mammograms this year. There was also a significant drop in urgent referrals from GPs and fewer women starting treatment. The Scottish Government has invested £10 million in cancer services and purchased additional MRI and CT scanners. While welcoming the increase in consultant oncologists and radiologists in Scotland, he acknowledged that early detection is essential for saving lives but noted potential harms of mammograms.

Mr Farron expressed concern about the significant backlog in cancer treatment due to missed screenings during the pandemic, citing a potential impact on thousands of women. He highlighted that Cancer Research UK estimates a 60% capacity for screening services, leading to a reduction in radiotherapy treatments by 15%, which could cost lives unnecessarily. Mr Farron called for an urgent and comprehensive response similar to the NHS's handling of the pandemic, stressing the need for increased investment in diagnostic machines and radiotherapy capacity.