NHS IT Error Linked to 10 Cancer Deaths and Missed Screenings for Over 5,000 Patients

A registration issue at GP practices left thousands without cancer screening invitations, prompting an apology and corrective measures from NHS England.

An IT error dating back to 2008 caused over 5,200 patients to miss routine cancer screenings for bowel, breast, cervical, and abdominal aortic aneurysm conditions.
The issue arose when incomplete GP registration processes prevented patient details from being entered into NHS screening systems.
Health officials report that 10 people may have died from cancers that could have been detected through screening, with another 10 diagnosed with potentially preventable cancers.
NHS England has written to affected individuals, established a helpline, and is offering catch-up screenings, including for those now beyond the eligible age.
New safeguards have been implemented to ensure all GP registrations are properly completed, and a full review is underway to prevent future errors.