Cancer Early Warning Programme is 2 Years Late
| Published: 4th August 2008 00:43 |
Health Secretary Alan Johnson is set to look into why our local area continues to await the arrival of a potential life-saving NHS programme, that has been available elsewhere in the country for 2 years.
"to maximise the effectiveness of treatment"
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme was set up in 2006 in order to detect evidence of cancer at an early stage, in order to maximise the effectiveness of treatment, by using faecal occult blood test kits. However, despite the programme being meant to cover all 60 to 69 year-olds no testing invites have been sent out locally because Basildon Hospital has not been accredited for the scheme.
Billericay MP, John Baron, who has now raised the issue with the Secretary of Health, said: "I fought hard to help get the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme started two years ago, but progress since then has been simply too slow across the East of England. Screening saves lives by catching cancer earlier and giving doctors more time to act. Patients in Essex deserve better."
