What happened?
More than 5,000 Brits have missed out on crucial cancer checks due to an NHS error dating back to 2008. The mistake came to light in 2024 when individuals flagged that they hadn't received screening invitations.
The impact
About 10 people are believed to have died from cancer after not being invited for screenings. However, it remains uncertain if the checks could have prevented these deaths. The screenings included tests for cervical, breast, and bowel cancer, along with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Actions taken
All 5,261 affected individuals have been offered catch-up scans, as confirmed by NHS director, Steve Russell. The error occurred due to incomplete GP registrations, preventing their details from reaching the NHS screening system.
Apologies and support
Steve Russell expressed apologies to those impacted by the error, assuring support and catch-up screenings. NHS England has provided guidance to ensure proper patient registrations and introduced measures to guarantee all eligible individuals receive screening invites.
Previous incidents
Last year, it was revealed that around 1,500 women at high risk of breast cancer missed essential MRI checks due to another NHS clerical mistake. These women had undergone radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma between 1962 and 2003, putting them at increased risk of breast cancer.
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