Search the hub
Showing results for tags 'Screening'.
Found 255 results
-
News Article
Record number of people waiting for NHS diagnostic tests in England
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A record number of people are waiting for a diagnostic test on the NHS, triggering fears that delays in accessing CT and MRI scans could endanger patients’ health. A total of 1.92 million patients in England are waiting to have a test to diagnose their illness such as by an ultrasound scan, assessment of their hearing, bone scan or various tests for cancer. Demand for tests is outstripping the NHS’s ability to meet it and one in five of those on the waiting list – more than 400,000 people – are having to wait longer than the supposed six-week maximum, an analysis of diagnostic services in England has found. The rise in the waiting list for diagnostic tests contrasts sharply with the NHS’s recent success in cutting the backlog for planned hospital care to 7.1 million, which was 500,000 fewer than in July 2025. The Patients Association voiced deep unease at the situation and warned that patients’ health can deteriorate while they are waiting to have the diagnostic test needed to kickstart their treatment. “A diagnostic test is not the end of a patient’s journey – it is the beginning. Without it, treatment cannot start, conditions deteriorate, and what might have been caught early becomes something far harder to treat,” said Rachel Power, its chief executive. “When more than one in five patients is waiting beyond the NHS’s own six-week maximum, and median waiting times have risen by more than half since before the pandemic, that is deeply concerning for patients’ health. “Every week of delay is a week a condition can worsen, a patient’s ability to live day-to-day can diminish, and their anxiety about what is wrong can grow,” she added. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 7 June 2026 -
News Article
Thousands more UK black men to be invited for prostate cancer screening
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands more black men will be invited to take part in a prostate cancer screening trial as the health secretary insisted he was “following the science” in not backing population-wide testing. James Murray accepted a recommendation from the UK national screening committee (UKNSC) that will result in only a few thousand high-risk men with a gene mutation being screened for the disease. However, he announced funding to expand the Transform trial, which is exploring the best ways to test for the disease, to ensure it includes more black men. Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease in the UK, with more than 64,000 men diagnosed every year. Last week, the UKNSC recommended against screening all men using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, saying it was “likely to cause more harm than good”. Instead, men with BRCA2 genetic mutations – which puts them at far higher risk – will be tested every two years between the ages of 45 and 61 if they have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancers. Dr Ian Walker, director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said the decision would be “disappointing for some” but was in line with evidence as there was some debate over the reliability of the PSA test. The UKNSC also recommended against screening for other at-risk groups, including black men, saying there is “ongoing uncertainty on whether screening would cause more good than harm”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 3 June 2026 -
News Article
Prostate cancer screening only for "a few thousand" high risk men
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Only "a few thousand" men who have a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer should be screened for prostate cancer with a blood test, according to the final recommendations of scientific advisers. The UK's National Screening Committee says the harms of screening outweigh the benefits in all other groups. A major review by the National Screening Committee said for every 1,000 men screened in their 50s, it would save two lives from prostate cancer over the next 15 years. But it would also lead to 20 men being told they have a cancer that would never need treatment. Some prostate cancers grow so slowly you would have to reach 120 to 150 years old before they were a threat. However, they would have to live with that psychological burden of a cancer diagnosis for the rest of their lives. Out of those 20 men, 12 would end up having treatment they don't need, but that damages the prostate – potentially damaging their sex lives and causing some incontinence, meaning they would need a pad to catch leaking urine. "Once a prostate cancer is found, we still can't reliably tell which cancers need treatment or which do not – and the treatments available for prostate cancer can cause long-lasting harm," said Prof Sir Mike Richards, who chairs the screening committee and has prostate cancer himself. The only group where the benefits were greater than the harms is men with a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer. The final decision though rests with health ministers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read full story Source: BBC News, 28 May 2026 -
News Article
NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The NHS is paying private firms record sums to analyse diagnostic scans because hospitals are too busy and understaffed to do the work themselves, research has revealed. The amount being spent on outsourced the interpretation of CT and MRI scans is “spiralling out of control” and reflects a short-sighted failure to train enough doctors, ministers are being told. Scans are vital for diagnosing diseases such as cancer and for monitoring patients’ responses to treatment, so they need to be done quickly. Many hospitals, however, rely on non-NHS health companies reading some scans to ensure they get the results promptly. NHS trusts and health boards across the UK gave £241m to private firms to undertake such work last year. As demand increases, spending has doubled in five years from £120min 2021 and tripled from the £81m spent in 2018. The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), which collated the figures in its annual workforce census, said health service spending on private scan reading was “ballooning”. The NHS-wide shortage of radiologists has left hospitals with too little capacity to read all scans, meaning the service is “haemorrhaging” cash to independent firms, it said. The RCR also raised concerns that the analysis done by private firms was sometimes so poor that NHS radiologists had to read scans again, raising questions about the benefit of outsourcing. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 25 May 2026 -
News Article
Trial of non-invasive endometriosis scan boosts hopes for quicker diagnosis
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A non-invasive scan for endometriosis has shown promising results in a trial, boosting hopes for far quicker diagnosis. The trial, which included 19 women with the condition, suggests that an experimental radiotracer, called maraciclatide, can “light up” endometriosis on a scan. The current need for a surgical investigation is seen as a major obstacle to timely diagnosis, with women in England typically waiting nearly a decade. Prof Krina Zondervan, head of department at the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health (NDWRH) at the University of Oxford, and co-lead on the study, said: “The most prevalent subtype of endometriosis currently evades reliable detection, leaving women no choice for diagnosis other than invasive surgery. If these results are confirmed in larger phase 3 studies, imaging with maraciclatide could transform clinical research and practice and potentially empower the development of treatments for women across the globe.” Research by the charity Endometriosis UK suggests women in England currently wait an average of 9 years 4 months – rising to 11 years for women from ethnic minority communities. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, highlighted the problem in the government’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy, earlier this month. Endometriosis can progress, leading to more severe physical symptoms and restricting the ability to make informed choices around fertility. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 April 2026 -
News ArticleMore than 2,000 Black men will die from prostate cancer in the next 10 years if the UK doesn’t change its screening programme, new figures reveal. Around 1 in 4 Black men in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease – twice the rate of white men. The reasons for the disparities vary, but contributing factors include genetics, a lack of awareness, delays in seeking help and barriers to accessing diagnostic tests. Last month, the government’s National Screening Committee (NSC) rejected proposals for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme for high-risk men, which includes Black men and those with a family history of cancer, because it said the harms of widespread testing outweigh the benefits and also cited a lack of available data on Black patients. Now, new estimates from the charity Prostate Cancer UK, shared with The Independent, suggest that if nothing changes, more than 2,300 Black men will die over the next decade, and at least 16,000 men will be diagnosed, if current rates of the disease continue. Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We were bitterly disappointed by the UK NSC's announcement that the evidence isn't yet strong enough to recommend targeted screening for Black men. “While we accept the committee's decision that the data they reviewed had too many gaps, a significant opportunity has been missed. The NHS holds electronic health data that could fill these gaps – but nobody has made full use of these records, and they weren't reviewed by the committee." She said that the charity would work alongside the NSC to find the missing data and build the evidence base needed to secure screening for Black men. Read full story Source: The Independent, 6 April 2026
-
News Article
Jesy Nelson ‘proud’ as NHS announces rollout of SMA screening for newborns
Mark Hughes posted a news article in News
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has said she is “proud” of having reached a “major milestone” as a rollout of screenings for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is to begin earlier than expected. The singer, 34, campaigned for all newborn babies to be screened for SMA after her twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson, were diagnosed with the rare condition, which causes progressive muscle wastage. In a letter addressed to Nelson and Giles Lomax, the chief executive of the charity SMA UK, health secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that screenings will be rolled out earlier than planned and begin as part of in-screening evaluations (ISE) from October 2026 instead of January 2027. Read full article. Source: The Independent, 2 April 2026 -
News Article
Poor IT a ‘critical’ threat to breast cancer service
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Poor IT represents a “critical” threat to patient safety and service delivery in a trust’s breast cancer unit, a report has warned. A Royal College of Radiologists review of County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust’s breast cancer service found cases where the wrong women were scanned, while others had the incorrect side of their body examined. Problems with the trust’s picture and communication service (PACS) meant that clinicians were sometimes unable to access critical prior imaging – particularly from independent sector providers – leading to delays, system overload and reliance on incomplete records. There were also reports of misdirected or lost findings, risking time-critical results not being acted upon. The RCR report is the latest investigation into breast cancer services at CDDFT, where major failings were identified last year after a review of cases. While previous reviews have looked at surgical practice, leadership and governance, the RCR review focuses on the imaging and reporting aspect of the symptomatic breast service. However, leadership and governance problems were also found in radiology, the RCR said. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 31 March 2026 -
News Article
Pregnant women and cancer patients at risk from sonographer shortage
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Pregnant women and cancer patients could face “life-threatening” delays because of a worsening shortage of sonographers, experts warn. The vacancy rate for sonographers is 24.2% across England, rising to 38.2% in some areas, according to the Society of Radiographers (SoR). In addition, 1 in every 13 (7.6%) sonographers are planning to retire within the next year, the census found. Sonographers carry out ultrasound scans which are essential to pregnancy care and are also used to diagnose cancer. Pregnant women undergo scans when their baby is 12 weeks old and again at 20 weeks. Katie Thompson, SoR president and a practising sonographer, said shortages forced hospitals to pull in practitioners from other areas to keep the antenatal services going at the "expense of those other services". "Hospitals try their very best to get the three-month and five-month antenatal screening scans done on time," she said. "But when there aren't enough staff, prioritising those scans has a knock-on effect on more urgent later foetal growth scans, which in some cases need to be done within 24 or 36 hours. "Departments end up struggling to fit in patients who need these emergency scans." Read full story Source: Sky News, 28 March 2026 -
News Article
US under-45s struggle for insurance approval as colon cancer rates rise
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
As colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s, some adults in the US who are under 45 and experiencing worrying symptoms are struggling to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies, which can detect colon cancer. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people over 45 “because it’s been recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force”, says Caitlin Murphy, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Chicago. The ACA requires preventive screenings, including pap smears, for example, to be completely covered. But, Murphy noted, for people “under 45, if you have symptoms like rectal bleeding, a colonoscopy would be considered a diagnostic test, and so it’s not going to be covered in the same way as a screening test would be”. She added that the cost of a diagnostic colonoscopy a given insurance plan will cover varies widely. Dominick, a 35-year-old software engineer living in Florida, learned about the distinction between preventative and diagnostic colonoscopy the hard way. His doctor recommended a colonoscopy after he experienced bowel movement changes, stomach pain and weight loss. At first, his insurance company said it would be covered. Then, three hours before the procedure was scheduled, he got a call saying the colonoscopy wouldn’t be covered because it was considered diagnostic. The out-of-pocket cost for Dominick’s colonoscopy was roughly $2,000, which he paid for with a credit card because he didn’t have the cash readily available. The procedure later revealed a precancerous polyp, which he had removed – he said it’s scary to think about what could have happened if he hadn’t been able to find a way to pay. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 23 March 2026 -
News Article
AI could spot a quarter of breast cancers doctors miss on scans
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A large study using NHS breast screening data suggests that artificial intelligence could detect a quarter of breast cancers that human specialists initially miss on mammograms, a breakthrough researchers say could mark a turning point in the battle against the disease. Scientists say the technology could also make breast screening doctors roughly twice as effective by dramatically reducing the number of scans they need to review, potentially helping address chronic staff shortages in the NHS. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, affecting about one in eight during their lifetime. Early detection is crucial: tumours found through screening are typically easier to treat, and survival rates are far higher when the disease is caught before it spreads. The findings, published in Nature Cancer, come from a large study analysing mammograms from about 150,000 women in the NHS breast-screening programme. In the UK system, every scan is normally reviewed independently by two trained specialists, with disputed cases referred to senior clinicians for arbitration. Researchers examined what would happen if one of the two human readers were replaced by an AI system trained to analyse mammograms for subtle signs of cancer. One of the most striking findings was the system’s ability to identify “interval cancers” — tumours that are not detected during screening but are diagnosed later, before the next routine mammogram after three years. In retrospective analysis, the AI flagged about a quarter of these cancers on earlier scans, where they had initially been missed. “These cancers are very subtle,” said Susan Thomas, a researcher at Google Health, who worked on the study. “If we can increase the chances of detecting them earlier, that has the potential to make a real difference for patients.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 10 March 2026 -
Content Article
Patient safety in ophthalmology depends on the reliability of diagnostic information that informs clinical decisions. Within independent providers delivering NHS-contracted care, ophthalmic technicians undertake a wide range of physiological and psychophysical assessments, from advanced imagining and functional testing to preoperative measurements that shape condition management and surgical planning. This article explores diagnostics as an often unseen safety checkpoint. It reflects on how structured verification processes, clear escalation pathways and defined accountability within diagnostic teams strengthen system reliability. Viewing diagnostics through a patient safety lens highlights how safe care is sustained through multidisciplinary collaboration and robust system design rather than individual vigilance alone. The NHS increasingly delivers care through a mixed model in which independent providers undertake NHS-funded surgical pathways. This model can increase capacity and reduce waiting times. However, patient safety does not transfer automatically with contracts. It depends on robust systems, clear standards and well-prepared people. In ophthalmology, safety begins long before the surgeon enters the operating theatre. It begins in diagnostics with ophthalmic technicians (predominantly). Preoperative imaging, biometry, visual field testing and other screening inform surgical planning and intraocular lens power selection. National guidance from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists emphasises the importance of accurate biometry and appropriate preoperative assessment in reducing refractive surprise and avoidable harm.[1] When diagnostic governance is strong, risk is mitigated early in the pathway. When it is inconsistent, vulnerabilities may remain undetected. Diagnostic reliability as a safety principle Patient safety literature consistently demonstrates that harm in healthcare often arises not from single catastrophic failures but from accumulations of small system weaknesses.[2] In high volume cataract and glaucoma services, diagnostic processes operate under significant throughput pressure. In that environment, the reliability of measurement systems matters. Examples may include: Failure to recognise poor fixation during biometry. Acceptance of inconsistent keratometry readings without repeat measurement. Inadequate review of visual field reliability indices. Limited escalation of ambiguous imaging findings. Individually these may appear minor. Collectively they influence surgical accuracy and long term outcomes. This is not solely an ophthalmic technician issue. It is a system reliability issue. The role of ophthalmic technicians within the safety system Ophthalmic technicians working in both NHS trusts and independent providers frequently undertake (this is not an exhaustive list): Optical coherence tomography acquisition. Biometry measurement. Visual field testing. Corneal topography. Ultrasonography. Fundus photography. Specular microscopy. Data preparation for clinical decision making. The General Medical Council and NHS England both emphasise that safe delegation requires appropriate training, supervision and clarity of accountability.[3] Where ophthalmic technicians are appropriately trained and supported, structured approaches such as second checker systems, defined escalation thresholds and documented quality standards can strengthen safety by reducing single point failure risk. These systems align with wider patient safety principles embedded within the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), which emphasises learning, system design and proactive risk reduction rather than individual blame.[4] Independent provider pathways and shared standards Independent providers delivering NHS care are subject to the same Care Quality Commission expectations regarding safety, governance and quality assurance.[5] Patients rightly expect consistent standards regardless of setting. Diagnostic governance in this context should include: Clear standard operating procedures aligned with national guidance. Documented competency frameworks. Regular audit of refractive outcomes and measurement consistency. Structured escalation pathways. Ongoing professional development. These measures support both clinicians and ophthalmic technicians. They strengthen the entire pathway. Capability before expectation Across healthcare there has been expansion of non-medical roles to address workforce pressures. The Health and Social Care Committee has highlighted that role expansion must be matched with training, supervision and system design to protect patient safety.[6] In ophthalmology, ophthalmic technician-led diagnostic services can improve efficiency and access. However, safe expansion depends on: Defined scope of practice. Clear supervision structures. Time for skill consolidation. Access to continuing professional development. Inclusion in governance discussions. When expectation outpaces preparation, risk increases. When preparation is prioritised, safety improves. Prevented harm is rarely visible A repeated scan due to inconsistent signal. A paused surgical listing due to anomalous measurements. An escalated concern about unreliable visual field data. These actions do not generate incident reports because harm was prevented. Safety science reminds us that high-reliability systems pay attention not only to adverse events but to near misses and everyday adjustments that prevent error.[7] Ophthalmic technicians often contribute to this layer of safety. Recognising that contribution is not about professional status. It is about understanding how the pathway functions as a whole. A shared responsibility This is not an argument that ophthalmic technicians alone safeguard patients. Surgeons, optometrists, nurses, managers and other non-clinical staff all contribute to safe care. Rather, it is an invitation to ensure that diagnostic work is fully integrated into patient safety conversations. Questions worth reflecting on include: How is diagnostic quality measured within surgical pathways? Are escalation thresholds clearly defined and psychologically safe to use? Is learning captured from preoperative discrepancies? Are diagnostic staff included in incident learning discussions? In NHS-contracted independent care, as in all healthcare settings, patient safety depends on system design, team functioning and reliable processes. Diagnostics is the first safety checkpoint in ophthalmic surgery. The people delivering it should be visible within the safety framework, not peripheral to it. References 1. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK Ophthalmology Alliance. Quality Standard. Correct IOL implantation in cataract surgery. March 2018. 2. Reason J. Human Error, 1990; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 3. General Medical Council: Delegation and referral. Last accessed 2 March 2026. 4. NHS England. Patient Safety Incident Response Framework. Last accessed 2 March 2026. 5. Care Quality Commission. The fundamental standards of care. 23 December 2025. 6. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee. Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care. Second Report of Session 2021-22. 8 June 2021. 7. Vanderhaegen F. Erik Hollnagel: Safety-I and Safety-II, the past and future of safety management. Cognition Technology and Work 17(3):461-464. -
News ArticleA stethoscope that uses artificial intelligence could help doctors detect serious heart valve disease years earlier, potentially saving thousands of lives, a new study suggests. It is estimated that 41 million people worldwide, including 1.5 million people in the UK, live with a type of heart valve disease, which can lead to heart failure, hospital admissions and death. Early diagnosis is vital for successful treatment, but the condition can be symptom-free in its early stages before causing dizziness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which can be confused with other conditions, meaning some patients do not get a diagnosis until the disease is advanced. Currently, diagnosis of valve disease relies on echocardiography, a type of ultrasound scan that is expensive and time-consuming. While doctors do listen to the heart using a stethoscope, this is not routinely done in short GP appointments, and is known to miss many cases. But the new technology that works with digital stethoscopes was found to outperform GPs at detecting valve disease, and could be used as a rapid screening tool. “Valve disease is a silent epidemic,” said Professor Anurag Agarwal from Cambridge’s department of engineering, who led the research. “An estimated 300,000 people in the UK have severe aortic stenosis alone, and around a third don’t know it. By the time symptoms appear, outcomes can be worse than for many cancers.” For the study published in the journal npj Cardiovascular Health, researchers analysed heart sounds from nearly 1,800 patients using an AI algorithm trained to recognise valve disease. The AI was found to correctly identify 98% cent of patients with severe aortic stenosis, the most common form of valve disease requiring surgery, and 94% cent of those with severe mitral regurgitation, where the heart valve does not fully close and blood leaks backwards across the valve. Read full story Source: The Independent, 10 February 2026
-
News Article
Period blood test could offer less invasive alternative to cervical screening
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Testing period blood for signs of cervical cancer could be an accurate and convenient way of screening for the disease, researchers say. The current NHS test involves a nurse or doctor taking a sample of cells from the cervix - but a third of women invited for screening do not attend. A study of the new test, which can be carried out at home, used blood collected on a cotton strip attached to a standard sanitary pad. Cervical cancer charities say finding new and potentially gentler ways of testing for the disease is encouraging and could improve access, although it is still early days for this research. The NHS is already sending at-home test kits to women in some areas of England who have missed several cervical screening appointments. These DIY test kits containing a vaginal swab will be sent out more widely at some point this year. Testing period blood would be an even less invasive option, say the Chinese researchers behind the new study in the journal The BMJ, external, adding it could be "a robust alternative" to current methods. Five million women are not up to date with the test, research shows, and there are many reasons why - including fear, pain and discomfort. "Cervical screening can be difficult for some women for many reasons, like if they have had a bad previous experience, they are menopausal, they have a physical or learning disability, cultural barriers, or are a survivor of sexual violence," says Athena Lamnisos from charity The Eve Appeal. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 February 2026 Related reading on the hub: Top picks: 12 resources about improving access to cervical screening - Patient Safety Learning's Top Picks - Patient Safety Learning - the hub -
News ArticleThe use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening reduces the rate of a cancer diagnosis by 12% in subsequent years and leads to a higher rate of early detection, according to the first trial of its kind. Researchers said the study was the largest to date looking at AI use in cancer screening. It involved 100,000 women in Sweden who were part of mammography screening and were randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or to a standard reading by two radiologists between April 2021 and December 2022. The AI system worked by analysing the mammograms and assigning low-risk cases to a single reading and high-risk cases to a double one by radiologists, as well as highlighting suspicious findings to support radiologists. Mammography screening supported by AI reduced cancer diagnoses in the years after a breast screening appointment by 12%, according to the research, published in The Lancet. There were 1.55 cancers per 1,000 women in the AI-supported group compared with 1.76 cancers per 1,000 women in the control group. More than four in five cancer cases (81%) in the AI-supported mammography group were detected at the screening stage, compared with just under three quarters (74%) in the control group, and there were also almost a third (27%) fewer aggressive sub-type cancers in the AI group compared with the control. Dr Kristina Lång, from Lund University in Sweden and the lead author of the study, said that AI-supported mammography could help detect cancers at an early stage, but that there were caveats. “Widely rolling out AI-supported mammography in breast cancer screening programmes could help reduce workload pressures among radiologists, as well as helping to detect more cancers at an early stage, including those with aggressive subtypes,” Lång said. “However, introducing AI in healthcare must be done cautiously, using tested AI tools and with continuous monitoring in place to ensure we have good data on how AI influences different regional and national screening programmes and how that might vary over time.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 January 2026
-
Content ArticleA new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Osteoporosis and Bone Health, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, highlights how many people with osteoporosis are diagnosed late, struggle to access clear information, and receive little or no follow-up care. Drawing on patient evidence, MPs call for better coordination, clearer responsibility and stronger support to help people manage their condition day to day. Osteoporosis is one of the most significant threats to healthy life expectancy in the UK – affecting over 3.5 million people and causing over 550,000 broken bones every year. The scale of the disease burden, the effectiveness of early treatment, and the significant savings made by preventing fractures make osteoporosis particularly well-suited to a population health model that prioritises primary identification of people at risk and proactively prevents fractures. Instead, however, osteoporosis remains an under-prioritised condition within health policy compared to conditions of similar prevalence and impact. Osteoporosis care is characterised by underdiagnosis, inconsistent access to services, and limited long-term management. Our Inquiry found care to be often poor, fragmented, lacking clear clinical accountability, and frequently reactive rather than preventative. Key levers for system transformation 1. Enhanced services for the identification, assessment and management of osteoporosis and high fracture risk in the community. 2. National audit of the whole osteoporosis pathway – extending the current audit of FLS to include osteoporosis healthcare delivered in primary and community care settings where most people with osteoporosis are managed over the long term. 3. Technological solutions for case-finding, identification of people at high risk, and routine follow-up of patients. 4. Local development of comprehensive osteoporosis pathways to deliver consistent, coordinated care to people with osteoporosis and reduce inequality. 5. National and regional leadership for osteoporosis care to promote collaboration and support the development of osteoporosis pathways. 6. Structured osteoporosis education for people diagnosed with the condition. 7. Patient-held Bone Health Management Plans that set out the appropriate actions, timings and responsibilities across the pathway.
-
Content Article
(1).png.d989e50f4d858ad0ff62058b06f35aa5.png)
Steph O'Donohue is the Founder of TIGER UK—a social enterprise set up to help improve patient experiences of gynaecological care through collaboration. In this blog, Steph says that Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an opportunity to validate and help improve patient experiences. She calls for more information to be shared with both patients and doctors that helps to increase compassion, understanding and accessibility. It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and the drive to increase screening uptake has been visible through online posts and campaigns. This is critical work, but I can't help but notice the lack of emphasis on patient experience. The statistics, clinical explanations and even comedic memes have been plentiful this year, but what about the reassurance? What about the acknowledgement that it's not as simple as 'make sure you go — it could save your life' for many people? These procedures are really important but they can also feel exposing, embarrassing, triggering and distressing for some people. It's important that we not only acknowledge these valid experiences, but that proactive support from providers is abundant. Patients need to know they will be met with compassion and kindness. I came across a wonderful post by Dr Valerie Ademisoye on Instagram. She acknowledged the worry some people have in attending, and shared four tips for making smear tests easier. It was the most patient-centred post I had seen during this campaign week. It was empowering and empathetic. It offered practical advice. Dr Aziza Sesay has since posted with similar helpful and trusted advice. These messages are important. In an ideal world though patients shouldn't have to be empowered to know how to ask for adjustments that would make cervical screenings easier. Instead, every service provider would ask the right questions, and put the right things in place to make sure that person feels safe and comfortable. Otherwise there is an unfair burden on patients, and those who are less informed (through no fault of their own) are potentially less likely to have positive experiences. Next year I would love to see more of an emphasis on support and reassurance, including: Practical examples from healthcare professionals who have worked in partnership with patients to understand how to improve experiences of cervical screening, so others can learn from this. Leaders highlighting the importance of trauma informed training (especially for anyone performing vaginal access procedures). Sharing of resources to help healthcare professionals support survivors of sexual violence and abuse who may be feeling particularly anxious about their appointment. Local service providers proactively inviting people who feel unsure about attending to call and have an informal, no pressure chat to see how/if they can support. More information for doctors and patients to support accessibility needs. For example, how to request translation services, or how people with a learning disability or physical disability can be better supported before, during and after a smear test. Information about how trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a GP as male can opt-in for screening. Information about who is eligible for at-home testing. Preventing cervical cancer isn't just about explaining the risks of not being screened and encouraging people to book an appointment. It is about making sure that every patient considering having a cervical screening is supported throughout to have the most positive and dignified experience possible. Further reading on the hub: Top picks: 10 resources about improving access to cervical screening Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? Share your practical examples of how you have improved cervical screening. Are you a patient? Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights -
Community Post
Research study survey exploring scans and scanxiety experiences now open
Patient Safety Learning posted a topic in Cancers
- (and 2 more)
The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre is recruiting participants to take part in a survey for our study exploring scans and scanxiety experiences of adults with mesothelioma, pancreatic, brain and liver cancer. The study aims to explore people's scanxiety experiences, their care and support needs, as well as identifying interventions to alleviate and prevent scanxiety. This will help to understand and improve people's scanxiety. They are inviting people with or without scanxiety to take part in the online survey who are: A mesothelioma, pancreatic, brain or liver cancer patient Undergoing scans as part of your cancer care and Over the age of 18 Find out more here -
Content ArticleCervical cancer is preventable. By 2040 the NHS in England is aiming for a cervical cancer incidence rate of below 4 per 100,000 women (elimination status). To achieve this, we need to increase HPV vaccination rates and improve attendance for routine cervical screening particularly in younger people and underserved communities including patients with learning disabilities. This learning resource from the NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance explains the misconceptions and barriers to cervical screening, the consent and best interest decisions, and the role of the sample taker and the reasonable adjustments that can be made.
-
Content ArticleRuth Ajayi shares her experience of cervical screening after a traumatic childbirth, and how healthcare professionals could offer more compassionate, flexible care.
-
Content Article
.png.fe1a68a17335d8ef7091c3f048187c31.png)
NHS England has set a target that cervical cancer will be eliminated in England by 2040. Although progress has been made in detecting and treating cervical cancer, there are still many women who are reluctant to go for cervical screening, or who face barriers to accessing screening. These barriers include perceived discrimination, lack of understanding the risk of cervical cancer and unmet access needs. This contributes to persistent health inequalities amongst particular groups. Patient Safety Learning has pulled together 13 useful resources shared on the hub about how to improve access and overcome barriers to cervical screening. 1. Cervical screening, my way: Women's attitudes and solutions to improve uptake of cervical screening This research by Healthwatch explored why some women are hesitant to go for cervical screening. Based on the findings of a survey of more than 2,400 women who were hesitant about screening, it makes recommendations to policymakers on how to improve uptake, including: improvements to the way data about the disability and ethnicity of people attending screening. producing an NHS-branded trauma card for affected women to bring to appointments. ensuring staff are effectively trained on accessibility and adjustments to care. looking at the possibility of home-based self-screening. 2. Facing a smear test after my trauma In this BMJ article, Ruth Ajayi shares her experience of cervical screening after a traumatic childbirth, and how healthcare professionals could offer more compassionate, flexible care. 3. Exploring the inequalities of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening, using the Social Ecological Model Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. In this study, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England. The study highlights key barriers to access for women with learning disabilities. 4. “We’re not taken seriously”: Describing the experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women Black women continue to experience disparities in cervical cancer despite targeted efforts. One potential factor affecting screening and prevention is discrimination in medical settings. This US study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities describes experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women and explores the impact of this on cervical cancer screening and prevention. The authors suggest that future interventions should address the poor quality of medical encounters that Black women experience. 5. Top tips for healthcare professionals: Cervical screenings This article by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the My Body Back Project offers tips for healthcare professionals to make cervical cancer screening attendees feel as comfortable as possible during their appointments. Cervical screening can be very daunting for some women, and for those who have experienced sexual violence it can be triggering and cause emotional distress. The article provides tips on communication, making the environment calm and safe, sharing control and building trust with women. 6. Cervical screening uptake: supporting positive patient experiences is key In this blog, Steph explains why Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an opportunity to validate and help improve patient experiences. She calls for more information to be shared with both patients and doctors that helps to increase compassion, understanding and accessibility. 7. Cervical screening for people with learning disabilities: Learning resource for sample takers This learning resource from the NHS Wessex Cancer Alliance explains the misconceptions and barriers to cervical screening, the consent and best interest decisions, and the role of the sample taker and the reasonable adjustments that can be made. 8. The Eve Appeal: What adjustments can you ask for at your cervical screening? The Eve Appeal want to raise awareness of what adaptations women and people with a cervix can ask for during their screening to make the appointment more comfortable. 9. How can reframing women’s health improve outcomes? An interview with Dr Marieke Bigg Dr Marieke Bigg is the author of a 2023 book, This won’t hurt: How medicine fails women. In this interview, Marieke discusses how societal ideas about the female body have restricted the healthcare system’s approach to women’s health and describes the impact this has had on health outcomes. She also highlights areas where the health system is reframing its approach by listening to the needs of women and describes how simple changes, such as allowing women to carry out their own cervical screening at home, can make a big difference. 10. Having a smear test. What is it about? This download A4 Easy Read booklet from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust uses simple language and pictures to talk about smear tests. It explains what a smear test is, has tips for the person having the test and has a list of words they might hear at their appointment. 11. Health Improvement Scotland: Cervical screening standards Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March, the new cervical screening standards include recommendations to ensure women receive accessible letters and information about screening and healthcare professionals are trained to support women to make informed choices. 12. Cervical cancer screening in women with physical disabilities This US study explored how the cervical cancer screening experiences of women with physical disabilities (WWPD) can be improved. Interviews with WWPD indicated that access to self-sampling options would be more comfortable for cervical cancer screening participation. The authors highlight that these findings that can inform the promotion of self-sampling devices for cervical cancer screening. 13. Cervical screening - a guide for survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse This guide by The Eve Appeal and The Survivors Trust gives information about attending cervical screening for survivors of rape, sexual abuse or assault. It offers tips that may help patients feel more comfortable about their appointment. It is part of the #CheckWithMeFirst campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sexual violence may face when accessing cervical screening. Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? We would love to hear your insights and share resources you have developed. Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights -
News Article
Federal guidelines now include at-home test to check for cervical cancer
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a news article in News
The Department of Health and Human Services announced updated cervical cancer screening guidelines on Monday, allowing American women to perform tests for human papillomavirus at home for the first time. The recommendations allow women between the ages of 30 and 65 with an average risk for cervical cancer to test themselves for the virus, also known as HPV, which is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. and causes deadly cervical cancer. Read full story Source: Independent, 5 January 2026 -
News Article
Mum urges heart screening after son's sudden death
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a news article in News
"The police told me it was a sudden death - the worst knock on the door that any parent dreads." Sue Carter's son Ryan died in 2019 from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), external, a condition which claims the lives of about 500 people in the UK every year. The 25-year-old, from Totton, Hampshire, was a "very bright, fit and healthy young man" but, when his girlfriend found him unresponsive one afternoon, "nothing could bring him back" despite medical help, said his mum. Ms Carter has raised £25,000 so far to fund heart screening days for young people in the area and Sunday's Totton Running Club annual fundraiser for cardiac risk in the young will also remember her son. Read full story Source: BBC News, 21 December 2025 -
News Article
UK’s unregulated pregnancy scan clinics putting lives in danger, say experts
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
High street clinics offering pregnancy scans could be putting unborn babies and their mothers in danger through a lack of properly trained staff, UK experts have warned. According to the Society for Radiographers (SoR), high street clinics have seen a huge growth in numbers. However, hospital specialists say they have seen cases of missed health problems, misdiagnosed conditions, and situations in which women were erroneously told their babies were malformed or had died. “I had a lady referred for a potential miscarriage from a clinic and when I scanned her they’d measured a bleed in the womb and they completely missed a very early pregnancy sac with a baby inside it,” said Katie Thompson, a hospital sonographer and president of the SoR. “Potentially, if they were at a private clinic that could offer a miscarriage service, then they could have been given some medication to bring on a miscarriage on a pregnancy that was actually not miscarrying,” she said. The SoR says it has also seen cases in which private clinics have wrongly told women they have an ectopic pregnancy – a potentially life-threatening condition – or conversely missed an ectopic pregnancy, while they have also misdiagnosed problems with the cervix and missed abnormalities in babies that should have been picked up. Elaine Brooks, a former hospital sonographer and Midlands regional officer for the SoR, said some people attended their 20-week hospital scan after having had a private “sexing” scan a week or two before. “And then they come for their NHS scan and there’s quite a large abnormality that should have been picked up – something like spina bifida, polycystic kidneys or fluid-filled ventricles in the head – things that you wouldn’t expect to have developed in a week,” she said. The revelations come amid calls from the SoR for sonographers to have a “protected” job title – meaning it can be used only by qualified practitioners registered with a regulatory body. This is already the case for titles such as radiographer, dietician and speech and language therapist. “At the moment, absolutely anybody can go and buy an ultrasound machine and set up a practice without any qualifications whatsoever. And that has happened,” said Thompson. “There has been somebody that bought a machine and started scanning in her front room because after having a baby, she thought it’d be a nice thing to do.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 3 November 2025 -
Content Article
Prostate cancer is killing more Black men (June 2024)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Cancers
Black men face twice the risk of getting prostate cancer and 2.5 times the risk of dying from it than white men. They are also diagnosed younger, in a world where the majority of treatments and diagnostics have been designed based on data from white men, and in which the health of Black men can also be affected by factors such as entrenched racism, barriers in accessing care, economic injustice, nutrition and education. This report by Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) shares data from a survey conducted in March 2024 that asked 2,000 Black adults living in the UK their views on prostate cancer in Black men. The report shares what PCR is doing to tackle inequalities in screening, representation in research, treatment and support, with the aim of improving prostate cancer care for Black men.
(1).png.d989e50f4d858ad0ff62058b06f35aa5.png)
.png.fe1a68a17335d8ef7091c3f048187c31.png)