Lung cancer screening is still a decade away

864 times higher than in England

- By Craig Meighan

IT may take up to a decade before Scotland can fully roll out lung cancer screening nationwide, the SNP's public health minister has said.

Jenni Minto's admission comes three years after the UK National Screening Committee recommended targeted screening for the disease for all those aged 55 to 74 who either smoke or used to.

She said the Scottish Expert Advisory Group launched by the government estimated it could take anywhere between seven and 10 years for a scheme to be fully set up across the country.

Since 2022, the Scottish Government has set up a pilot programme focusing on poorer areas, which have higher rates of cancer.

But, in response to a question from Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, Ms Minto said setting up a system for the entire nation would take time blaming complexities including resourcing and infrastructure for the fact it is unlikely to roll out until the 2030s.