Prostate Cancer: National Screening Programme

Lord Bishop of St Albans Excerpts

Thursday 27th February 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[The Lord Bishop of St Albans]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce a national screening programme for prostate cancer.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, we are investing £16 million in the Prostate Cancer UK-led TRANSFORM trial to look for better tests than we have currently. Evidence shows that the current best test available, the PSA test, is not accurate enough to use in men without symptoms. As noble Lords will appreciate, policies must be evidence-based, so the UK National Screening Committee is actively reviewing the evidence for prostate screening programmes and will complete its review this year, to be followed by consultation.

[The Lord Bishop of St Albans]

My Lords, I declare an interest, in that just a year ago I was unexpectedly and rapidly diagnosed with prostate cancer and received wonderful treatment from the NHS, to which I pay tribute today. Some 12,000 men die each year, many needlessly, because of late diagnosis. It is a postcode lottery. It is quite clear that in areas of socioeconomic deprivation, and among black men between the ages of 45 and 70, there is a much higher incidence. When can we expect to hear news about a national screening programme? What assessment is being made of the new tests that are being reported at the moment, which are much more successful in diagnosis?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My Lords, I am glad to hear that the right reverend Prelate had such good care in the NHS. His comments are appreciated, and we are very pleased that things have out turned so well for him. The issue, as I know he will he understand, is that we cannot offer an inaccurate test to high-risk groups, not least because that increases the risk of adverse effects, unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis. We are not yet in a scientifically and evidence-based position to offer the national screening programme, and that is why we are taking the action that I outlined in my Answer.