Your Screening Appointment

When will I be invited for my breast screening appointment?

Following the National Breast Screening Programme guidance, all eligible women (registered as female with their GP) aged between 50 and 71 are invited for breast screening every three years.

You are not automatically called at the age of 50. All eligible women should receive an invite before their 53rd birthday.

Your appointment will be sent to you by letter, and a text message reminder will be sent if we have your mobile number.

The appointment will take place at one of our mobile or static units. We offer screening at a location as local to your home address as possible, however you can change your appointment to a different location that is more convenient for you or if you require an accessible site.

What to expect at your appointment?

You will be imaged by a female member of staff who is a mammographer during your breast screening appointment. This member of staff will confirm your details such as your full name, date of birth and address and will then ask if you have ever had a mammogram, and when and where you had this. They will also ask if you have ever had surgery to your breasts or your chest and if you are currently experiencing any breast symptoms.

You will be asked to remove any clothing above your waist. This will either be in a cubicle or the x-ray room. If in a cubicle, you will be asked to put your top back on until you are in the x-ray room. For your comfort and dignity, we ask you to wear ‘separates’ i.e. a top and skirt or trousers, rather than a dress. This is because we do not provide gowns.

The mammographer will explain what will happen during the mammogram and check that you are happy to go ahead with the examination. You will be able to get dressed once the images are taken and the mammographer will explain when you will get your results.

The examination takes around 5 minutes.

Please note

We cannot care for children under 16 who would be left unattended whilst you have your mammogram.

Leeds Wakefield Breast Screening Service video introduction:

A female radiographer describes what the Breast Screening service is, and what happens during a Breast Screening appointment. A female Consultant Radiologist discusses the importance of attending a Breast Screening appointment. The contact details for the department are then shown below.

Leeds Wakefield Breast Screening Service

Free NHS breast screening is available to all women age over 50 in the Leeds and Wakefield district. The Leeds Wakefield breast screening service invites more than 180,000 women from the area for breast screening. Around one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. We aim to identify breast cancer early and save lives. Breast screening is carried out by female members of staff, and your mammogram will only take a few minutes.

We recommend that you wear trousers or a skirt as you will need to undress down to your waist. A mammogram is a special type of x-ray which specifically views breast tissue. Some women may find it uncomfortable, but just for a few seconds. Appointments are offered at our screening vans or at our static units across the community. Your invitation and results are both sent to your home address.

Evidence shows that breast screening saves lives, and therefore it is important that you attend for your screening appointment when you get the letter through the post. If for any reason you’re unable to attend, then contact the unit to change your appointment, but please make the effort to attend.

How do I change my screening appointment?

If the time, date, or location of your screening is not suitable for you, please contact the breast screening office and we will be happy to rearrange the appointment for you.

How do I cancel my screening appointment if I don’t want to be screened?

We would always encourage you to attend your screening appointment but respect your decision if you decide not to. If you’ve received an invitation but decided you do not want to attend, contact the screening office.