27/10/2004

Bowel cancer screening scheme ready for April roll out

A national screening programme for bowel cancer will be rolled out across the country from April 2006, Health Secretary John Reid announced today.

It will be the first cancer-screening programme in England for both men and women and one of the first of its kind in Europe. The move fulfils a commitment made in the NHS plan in 2000.

The move is designed to tackle the increasing problem of cancer in England - though it has the fastest falling premature death rates for lung cancer in men and for breast cancer in women in Europe. Government research has shown that using a national programme can cut the death rate for bowel cancer by 15%.

Speaking at the Britain Against Cancer conference today, Health Secretary John Reid said the investment would help save even more lives.

"Screening is key to cutting deaths from cancer. That is why I am delighted to announce today that we are investing £37.5 million over two years to fund a NHS Bowel Cancer Screening to begin in April 2006," he said.

(gmcg/sp)

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