Ten patient deaths after NHS England error meant they were not invited for screening

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.

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.

Health minister, Ashley Dalton, said in a written ministerial statement, that NHS England had written to those affected.

The letters were sent to patients 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.

Ashley Dalton said the mistake occurred when the GP registration process of the patients was “not completed correctly, meaning their details were not passed to NHS screening system. Records indicate that up to 10 patients have been diagnosed with a relevant cancer and were not invited for certain screening.

“The impact on these patients is not yet known and a clinical harm assessment process will be undertaken, based on expert clinical advice.

“It is with deep sadness that I must report that records also indicate that around 10 people who were not invited for screening may have died from a relevant cancer.”

The Guardian said it understood that NHS England was first warned about the issue last summer when people contacted the health service to say they had not been invited for screening.

NHS England commissioned an investigation but identified an issue within GP registration only in late December.

The health minister added: “Since then, work has been undertaken to identify the individuals affected. Where relevant, work is ongoing to assess any clinical implications of their delayed screening.”

The blunder was related to when patients register at a new GP practice.

GP registrations returned to some practices by Primary Care Support England for further information or review had not been completed, or the GP practice had not sent a message to complete the patient’s registration.

Incomplete registrations were not passed to the NHS screening programme IT systems and, therefore, some people were not been invited to their routine screening, the Guardian understands.

Health officials said that processes have now been put in place to ensure that new GP registrations will be closely monitored and updated on systems as necessary.

NHS England’s director for vaccinations and screening, Steve Russell, said the NHS was contacting 5,261 people who had not been invited for screening.

He said: “This issue has now been fixed and everyone affected will be offered support and any catch-up screening as soon as possible, including where they may now be above screening age.

“We would like to extend our sincere apologies to those affected for this error and any additional worry this may have caused. Anyone who is concerned they may have missed an invitation to screening can call our dedicated helpline for support and further information.

“Around 15 million people are invited to NHS screening every year and it is important that everyone eligible can access these life-saving programmes.

“The NHS has issued guidance to GP practices and integrated care boards to ensure all patient registrations are fully completed and has put in place new measures to make sure all eligible people are invited for screening.”

Cancer Research  UK’s executive director of policy, Dr Ian Walker, said: “Bowel, breast and cervical screening programmes help diagnose cancer early or prevent it developing in people without symptoms, and everyone who’s eligible should be invited to take part.

“It’s unacceptable that some people haven’t received an invitation, and we welcome NHS England’s announcement that there will be a full review to understand how this happened.

“This news will be extremely worrying for anyone who’s eligible to take part in screening so, if you think you are eligible but haven’t been invited, you can check with your GP.”