Availability of free door-to-door transport to increase the attendance of breast screening appointments in Yorkshire

Breast cancer is a significant concern for women in Yorkshire, and sadly, it leads to hundreds of deaths each year. Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to find breast cancer early, often before any symptoms appear. Catching it early means treatments are usually much more effective, and the chances of a full recovery are higher. However, not everyone attends their screening appointments, and a major reason for this is often simply getting to and from the clinic.

This study is looking into whether offering free, organised transport directly to and from their breast screening appointments could help more women attend. The researchers want to see if this idea is practical, if it helps more women come for screening, and if it's worth the cost. This first step is really important because it will show whether a bigger study is needed and help them plan it properly.

To do this, some GP practices (doctor's surgeries) in East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston Upon Hull will be split into two groups. Women registered at GPs in one group will be offered the free transport service when they get their breast screening invitation. Women at GPs in the other group will receive their invitation as usual, without the transport offer. The researchers will then compare how many women from each group attended their appointments to understand the impact of the transport service. They'll also talk to some women and transport providers to see what they thought about the service.