MORE than 5,000 Brits have missed out on lifesaving cancer checks thanks to an NHS mishap.
Health chiefs have since rushed out letters to every person affected, apologising for the failure, which dates back to 2008.
The error surfaced in 2024 when people flagged to the health service that they hadn’t received screening invitations[/caption]
About 10 people are thought to have died of cancer after not being invited for screenings, according to a written ministerial statement published yesterday.
However, it is not clear whether any checks could have prevented those deaths.
The screening included checks for possible cervical, breast and bowel cancer, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm.
All 5,261 people impacted have been offered catch-up scans, NHS director, Steve Russell, confirmed.
The error surfaced in 2024 when people flagged to the health service that they hadn’t received screening invitations.
It happened because some GP registrations weren’t fully completed, so their details never made it to the NHS screening system.
“This issue has now been fixed and everyone affected will be offered support and any catch-up screening as soon as possible, including where they may now be above screening age,” Steve explained.
He added: “We would like to extend our sincere apologies to those affected for this error and any additional worry this may have caused.
“Anyone who is concerned they may have missed an invitation to screening can call our dedicated helpline for support and further information.”
Around 15 million people are invited to NHS screening every year.
NHS England says it has given guidance to GP practices and Integrated Care Boards to ensure all patient registrations are properly completed.
It has also introduced new measures to make sure everyone eligible gets a screening invite.
Those who are no longer eligible can still opt in if they wish, with details on how to do so included in the letters sent to those affected.
Last year, it emerged that nearly 1,500 women at high risk of breast cancer missed vital MRI checks due to an NHS clerical error.
The mistake affected women who had radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma between 1962 and 2003, putting them at greater risk of breast cancer.
Guidelines since 2003 recommend annual MRI scans, but some were never invited.
Doctors were told to track down affected patients, but NHS bosses only learned of the issue in 2023 – ministers weren’t informed until 2024.
Free cancer screenings in England
CATCHING cancer early gives you the best chance of survival, and a huge part of that is attending regular screenings.
NHS programmes can help diagnose the disease, or risk of it, and improve the likelihood of successful treatment.
There are three national screening programmes in England: cervical screening, breast screening and bowel screening.
“If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test as they can detect a problem early, before you have any symptoms. ,” the NHS says.
“Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.”
Cervical screening
This is offered in England to people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and is routinely carried out every three years up to the age of 49, and every five from 50 to 64.
Depending on the result, people may be recalled earlier.
During a cervical screening, samples are tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes nearly all cervical cancers.
Those that test positive are then analysed further.
Breast screening
Breast screenings, which involve an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel, are usually offered to women aged 50 to 71 in England.
But the NHS is trialling them for women under 50 if they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.
Bowel screening
This test detects whether patients are showing any early signs of cancer.
It is available to everyone aged 54 to 74, with the programme gradually expanding to those 50-plus after The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign.
Currently, those aged 54 to 74 are automatically sent an at-home test kit every two years, so make sure your GP has your correct address.
The at-home test involves providing a small poo sample to be checked for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by cancer.
If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Source: NHS
