Trans people in England missing out on vital cancer screening, experts warn

Thousands of transgender patients in England are missing out on vital cancer screening because of the way their GP records are drawn up, experts have warned.

Everyone registered as female with their GP is automatically invited to breast screening from the age of 50 to 70, and to regular cervical screenings from 25 to 64.

But warnings from experts at the World Cancer Congress in Geneva this week, underscored by official NHS guidance, show that many trans patients are not invited to undergo the tests.

In England, trans men who were registered female at birth and have changed the gender on their patient record to male are not offered breast or cervical screening, regardless of whether they have had chest reconstruction or a hysterectomy.

Trans women who are still registered male with their GP are also not offered routine breast screening, even if they have been on longterm hormone therapy, which puts them at added risk of breast cancer.

Experts say the problem is the way GP electronic records in England are updated when patients change their gender.

NHS England stipulates that when a patient changes their registered gender, they are given a new NHS number and must be registered as a new patient at their GP practice. All their previous medical history is transferred into their new medical record and their previous name, sex at birth, any other gender-specific terms and old NHS number are removed.

Because the breast and cervical screening programmes use patients’ current gender to generate appointment invitations, many trans patients are missing out.

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Source: The Guardian, 19 September 2024