I would like to inform the House that I have accepted the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation to introduce a national targeted lung cancer screening programme for people aged 55 to 74 who are at high risk of lung cancer in England.
Around 35,000 people die and 48,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers. This is largely attributed to lung cancer being diagnosed at a late stage when treatment is much less likely to be effective. Diagnosis of lung cancer at an earlier stage is essential in achieving better results. It is for this reason we are introducing a national screening programme, which, when fully rolled out, will detect around 9,000 additional cancers at an early stage each year.
Smoking causes 72% of lung cancers. The programme will use a history of smoking from GP records to identify the cohort eligible for screening. Current or ex-smokers aged 55 to 74 years will have an initial assessment of their individual lung cancer risk carried out. Anyone assessed as being at high risk of lung cancer will be referred to have a low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. They will be reinvited for a further scan every 24 months until they are 75 and exit the programme. Patients will also be signposted to smoking cessation services.
The targeted lung health check programme is currently being run by the NHS in predominantly deprived areas. The national programme will build on this existing programme, converting it into a national screening programme. The national screening programme will reach 100% of the eligible population by March 2030.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the UK National Screening Committee for their expert advice on screening programmes and all those involved in cancer screening across the country.
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