Record number of cancers diagnosed in early stages thanks to NHS testing drive
RECORD numbers of cancers are being diagnosed in the early, curable stages thanks to an NHS testing drive — turbocharged by high-street scan clinics.
Six in ten people with tumours — 113,160 out of 195,025 — caught them at stage one or two last year boosting their survival chances.
Checks for the disease are faster than ever as health bosses roll out community diagnostic centres offering CT scans, ultrasounds, breast mammograms, X-rays and MRIs.
There are 118 nationwide, doing five million tests in the past 18 months. Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, told The Sun: “The single biggest thing we can do for cancer is to catch it early.
“Treatment at an early stage is often less invasive, easier for patients to go through and has much more positive outcomes.
“We’re seeing record numbers of people being referred for potential cancer and are delivering a third more tests, checks and scans than we did pre-Covid – it’s a huge increase.
“These centres are increasing capacity and making it much more convenient for patients.”
NHS figures show 58 per cent of cancers were diagnosed at stages one and two in the year to April 2023, compared to 56 per cent in 2019.
August saw an all-time record of 267,555 cancer tests in clinics and centres across England.
High street test centres mean people can get quick CT scans, ultrasounds, breast mammograms, X-rays and MRIs without going to hospital.
Barnsley’s clinic is in a shopfront next door to Sports Direct, a short walk from the train and bus station – and will even take walk-in patients.
Manager Liz Elfleet said: “Patients really like it and find it easier to get here.
“It’s got a direct transport link with the bus and train station and a lot of them can walk.”