Why the lung cancer screening roll out must not be derailed by the NHSE abolition

The approval of a national targeted lung cancer screening programme in June 2023 was a significant milestone – helping to detect lung cancer sooner and speed up diagnosis.1 

The success of the programme is borne out by the most recent national programme metrics. Over 1.1 m people have now attended a lung health check - resulting in 6,200 new lung cancers diagnosed, of which 75% were at an early stage (stage 1 and 2).2 As a result, not only will many lives be saved from the UK’s biggest cancer killer, but it will also provide a major opportunity to address health inequalities linked to lung cancer - and detect other diseases incidentally. 

However, we are concerned that the recent announcement of NHS England’s proposed abolition may hinder progress. We also want confirmation that the fully funded roll-out of national screening programme, to 100% of the potentially eligible population by March 2030, is included in the new 2025 Cancer Plan. The UKLCC has included this request in its submission to the DHSC Cancer Plan consultation.

It is imperative that screening remains a priority for the Department of Health and Social Care and that the good work undertaken to date remains on track and does not lose its momentum. It is also vital that, as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee, lung cancer screening is implemented across the devolved nations, not just in England.3

We are calling for the lung cancer community to put pressure on both Government and DHSC officials to ensure that screening implementation continues at pace.  Lung cancer screening is without doubt the single biggest intervention in improving lung cancer survival in the UK. 

References 

  1. Press Release: National targeted lung cancer screening programme designed to catch cancer sooner announced (published under previous Government): www.gov.uk/government/news/new-lung-cancer-screening-roll-out-to-detect-cancer-sooner
  2. NHS Lung Cancer Screening Monthly Update. National Programme Metrics for activity from programme start up until end of January 2025.
  3. UK NSC recommends introduction of targeted lung cancer screening: https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2022/09/29/uk-nsc-recommends-introduction-of-targeted-lung-cancer-screening/