How to book or change a breast screening appointment

You'll be invited to breast screening (mammogram) if you're eligible.

Booking a breast screening appointment

Your breast screening invitation will give you a pre-booked appointment which will tell you when and where to go for breast screening.

Breast screening may be done at a:

• breast screening clinic, often within a hospital
• mobile breast screening unit – these can be in lots of different locations, such as in a supermarket car park

You’ll usually get instructions on how to find the clinic or screening unit.

If you have not been sent a letter inviting you to breast screening

Contact your local breast screening service if:

• you've not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been
• it's been more than 3 years since your last had breast screening and you think you’re overdue

Things that can help screening staff plan your appointment

To make sure your appointment works for you, it may need to be adjusted. This could include having a longer appointment or going to a different location.

To help them plan your appointment, tell the breast screening service if you:

• need additional support to attend screening – for example, if you have a learning disability or difficulties with your mobility (wheelchair access is available at most breast screening clinics and some mobile units)
• have breast implants – you may need an extra X-ray to get a clearer picture around the implant
• have a pacemaker or another medical device implanted in your body
• are pregnant, think you could be pregnant or are breastfeeding
• are under the care of a breast consultant
• have had a mammogram in the last 6 months
• have had both breasts removed (mastectomy)
• want someone to go with you for the appointment – such as a carer, someone to interpret for you, a friend, a family member or another member of staff (chaperone)

Contact the screening service by phone or email to tell them.

Booking breast screening if you're trans or non-binary

You can have breast screening if you:

• were assigned female at birth and have not had top surgery (surgery to remove the breasts and have male chest reconstruction)
• were assigned male at birth and have been taking feminising hormones

When booking your appointment, you may want to:

• ask for an appointment at the beginning or end of clinic hours to give you more privacy and time to talk to the mammographer
• tell the staff your pronouns
• ask someone else to book the appointment for you if that is more comfortable for you
• check if you can wait somewhere private if you do not feel comfortable in a waiting room with other people

If you’re registered with your GP as male, you will not automatically be invited to breast screening, but you can speak to your GP about getting a mammogram.

If you have any worries or questions you can talk to your local breast screening services or contact Switchboard, the LGBTQIA+ helpline.

Changing or cancelling an appointment

If you need to change or cancel your appointment, contact the breast screening service using the contact details included in your invitation.