Overview

• 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.