Oesophageal Cancer: Screening

(asked on 12th March 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for the test for esophageal cancer to be made available on the NHS.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 19th March 2018

The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network is supporting recruitment to a trial of Cytosponge, which is funded by Cancer Research UK. For the Cytosponge test patients swallow a small capsule with a sponge inside. The sponge is attached to string which the patient or nurse uses to pull the sponge out. This takes a sample of the cells of the lining of the food pipe which then can be tested.

The trial is looking at how acceptable and how safe it is to use the Cytosponge test in general practice surgeries for people with heartburn symptoms. Recruitment to the trial is due to complete in summer this year.

NHS England is committed to transforming cancer services across the country. If evidence suggests Cytosponge is effective, any decision to make the test available on the National Health Service would be the responsibility of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). NHS England expects CCGs to take account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and local population needs when making commissioning decisions.

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