Cancer screen errors ‘caused early deaths’

CANCER screening programmes face a major overhaul after hundreds of women were failed by mistakes during breast and cervical programmes, the NHS said yesterday.

It emerged that up to 48,500 women have not received information on cervical cancer screening following a system error at Capita, a contractor which provides support services across England.

The huge review will use the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, to help to cut out system errors which, in some cases, may have shortened lives.

In May it was revealed that the lives of between 135 and 270 women may have been cut short due to failures in breast cancer screening following a computer error.

Symptoms

Screening can help spot problems before a person has any symptoms, when cancer is often easier to treat.

In some cases it can even prevent it from developing in the first place by spotting people at risk.

There are three national cancer screening programmes in England for cervical, breast and bowel cancers.

The review will also look at ways to encourage more eligible people to go for screening.

It will be led by Professor Sir Mike Richards, the NHS’s first cancer director and the Care Quality Commission’s former chief inspector of hospitals. It is expected to report back by next summer.

Sir Mike will lead a team assessing current screening programmes and will recommend how they should be organised, developed and improved.

The team will advise NHS England and Public Health England on the best screening programme examples and possible changes to outsourced services.

Sir Mike said: “There is no doubt screening programmes in England save thousands of lives every year.

“However, as part of implementing the NHS’s long-term plan, we want to make certain they are as effective as possible.

“This review provides the opportunity to look at recent advances in technology and innovative approaches to selecting people for screening, ensuring the NHS programme can go from strength to strength and save more lives.”

NHS England national medical director Professor Steve Powis said: “Screening is a vital and effective tool in our fight against cancer.

“However, recent issues with breast and cervical cancer screening have shown that we need to look closely at these existing programmes.”

He said Sir Mike had “a wealth of experience” and was “ideally placed” to lead the review.