Prostate Cancer Screening

Baroness Pidgeon Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right to bring inequality into this discussion. The statistics are stark. That is why the Government are today announcing an investment of £18 million in TRANSFORM stage 2, which will take a particular interest in Black men. Eligible Black men include those aged 45 to 74 having come through the stage 1 process. There is a list of criteria that I cannot go into in detail on now, but it is worth looking into. There is also money set aside for capital spend to look at strengthening access to focal therapies, which are less invasive. So much research still needs to be done, and the noble Baroness is absolutely right to raise the particular issue of inequality.

[Baroness Pidgeon (LD)]

My Lords, the proposed limited screening programme is a disappointment to many campaigners. It is clear that the key to screening is accurate ways of testing, so what further investment are the Government planning to help develop more precise prostate cancer screening tests other than PSA?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I can only repeat what I said in my earlier answer: all the research into this that is continuing as part of the ongoing programme will be taken into account; it is critical that that is the case. I have forgotten the first part of the noble Baroness’s question.

[Baroness Pidgeon (LD)]

It was about testing for PSA.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I do not have the specific answer to that, but we have to make sure that GPs in particular have the best guidance possible on picking up the signs they need to take care of, on the advice they give to people coming in, and on looking at the most appropriate way forward, whether it be testing or making sure that patients get access to the right treatment, should that be deemed essential.