NHS screening blunder led to 10 deaths from cancer, minister says

Ten people have died from cancer and up to 10 more have been diagnosed with the disease after a blunder meant they were not invited to NHS screening programmes.

- Andrew Gregory

Health officials failed to invite more than 5,000 patients for routine checks after an IT error affected bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening programmes, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.

In a written ministerial statement yesterday, the health minister Ashley Dalton said NHS England had written to those affected this week.

The letters were sent to patients who are still eligible for a screening programme, or who were previously eligible for a programme but now exceed its upper age limit. NHS England has also set up a helpline.