How much does a private mammogram cost in the UK?

Quick answer

Private mammograms in the UK typically cost around £150–£300 depending on clinic and region — always check current prices with the provider. NHS breast screening is free for eligible women aged 50–71 in England (50–70 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Breast Cancer Charity does not book private UK scans; a £25 gift funds one complete screening pathway for a woman overseas who has no routine programme.

What does a private mammogram cost?

There is no single national private price. Clinics set their own fees, and a “mammogram” package may be a two-view screen, a symptomatic assessment, or imaging plus a consultant appointment. Published self-pay menus from UK private hospitals and imaging centres commonly fall in the £150–£300 range for a screening mammogram, with symptomatic or one-stop clinics costing more once ultrasound, biopsy or consultant time is included. Treat any figure on this page as a typical band, not a quote — call the clinic for today’s price.

Is NHS breast screening free?

Yes, for people invited by the national programme. NHS England invites women aged 50 up to your 71st birthday every 3 years. The first invitation usually arrives between 50 and 53. Women over 71 can self-refer every 3 years. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland invite women aged 50–70. If you have a new lump or other symptom, do not wait for screening — see a GP. NHS symptomatic referral is separate from the screening programme.

When do people pay privately?

  • They are under the invitation age and want imaging without waiting for symptoms.
  • They missed or want to supplement a routine NHS appointment (this does not replace NHS follow-up).
  • They were advised to consider additional imaging (for example dense breasts) and choose a private pathway.
  • They want a faster symptomatic appointment and can pay — still tell your GP so results sit in your NHS record.

Private imaging is not automatically “better” than NHS screening. The NHS programme uses national standards, recall pathways and quality assurance. A private film still needs a qualified reader and a plan for what happens if something is found. Ask who reports the images and how results are shared with your GP.

How is this different from funding a mammogram abroad?

Breast Cancer Charity does not sell or book private UK mammograms. Donations fund screening and diagnostic access in communities with no organised programme — clinical breast examination, ultrasound, and mammography where equipment exists — through vetted local partners. £25 is our published unit cost for one complete screening pathway overseas, not a UK private-clinic fee. If you need a UK scan, use the NHS programme or a regulated private provider; if you want to fund access for someone who has never been examined, donate here.

Who this page is not for

This is not a clinic price list, a booking service, or personal medical advice. New breast symptoms need a GP, not a comparison table. We are a screening-access charity, not a cancer research charity and not an NHS screening unit.

Sources

  • NHS breast screening — https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/who-breast-screening-is-for/
  • NHS: breast screening (mammogram) — www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/

Related pages

More on this topic

Is private screening the same as NHS screening?
Both can use mammography, but NHS screening follows national programme standards and recall pathways. Private clinics set their own prices, reporting and follow-up. Always discuss results with a qualified clinician and ask that a copy goes to your GP.
Can I get a free mammogram on the NHS under 50?
Routine NHS invitations start around 50. Under 50, screening is not offered to everyone. If you have symptoms, see a GP for referral. People at very high risk (for example certain gene alterations) may be offered earlier surveillance on the NHS — that is a specialist decision, not something this charity arranges.
Does Breast Cancer Charity pay for private UK mammograms?
No. We fund screening and treatment access in low-income communities overseas. We do not reimburse UK private clinic fees or book NHS appointments.
Why do you say £25 funds a screening if UK private scans cost hundreds?
£25 is the published unit cost of one complete screening pathway in our overseas programmes (exam, ultrasound and health education, with mammography where available) — not the self-pay price of a UK private hospital. Different health systems, different costs.
Where should I go if I find a lump?
See a GP promptly. Do not wait for a screening invitation or a private appointment you have not yet booked. Guide: breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-symptoms/