Prostate Cancer Screening: AI
Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Grayling(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
As I said, your Lordships’ House will not be waiting too long for the workforce plan, but I certainly recognise the noble Lord’s points. He describes the transformed service set out in the 10-year health plan, and the workforce plan will support that.
Lord Grayling (Con)
My Lords, although I very much welcome the programme for Black men, who are at greater risk, does the Minister not accept that very many of us who are not Black—I am one—have benefited from early diagnosis? Does she not accept that, going forward, it will not be sustainable to have testing available only to one ethnic group? It needs to be universal.
Baroness Merron (Lab)
Perhaps I can clarify that the TRANSFORM trial is not exclusive to a particular group. We are looking at people who have susceptibility to prostate cancer because they carry the gene and there is family history. I simply point that out because I hope it will be a reassurance to the noble Lord.
Prostate Cancer: National Screening Programme
Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Grayling(1 year, 5 months ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
I certainly agree with my noble friend. As he knows from his experience, tests are available. The point is that they should be used in the right situation. As he knows, one of the issues is people being asymptomatic, which is why it is very important that men take note of their health and report any change or concerns that they have.
Lord Grayling (Con)
My Lords, I am also here thanks to early diagnosis. I understand what the Minister is saying about the PSA test, but very many people are here today because they had such a test. It worries me that the message is that, because it is not reliable, it should not be at the forefront. I ask the Minister not to rule out using PSA tests more widely. If it is the best we have got, it may be the only thing we have got.
Baroness Merron (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for sharing his personal experience. I am not suggesting that the PSA test should not be used, but we are talking about extending it and using it in a screening program. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to reassure your Lordships’ House that that is why we have the trial, which will report later this year, to find a better answer; the answer we have currently is not where we need it to be. Yes, there is a role for it, but we must strive for better than we have got currently.