Professor Sir Mike Richards will lead a major overhaul of national cancer screening programmes as part of a renewed drive to improve care and save lives, NHS England has today announced.
Increasing early detection of cancers when they are easier to treat is at the heart of the NHS’s long term plan to upgrade services and make sure patients benefit from new technologies and treatments.
Sir Mike, who was the NHS’ first cancer director and is the former CQC chief inspector of hospitals, will lead a review team to assess current screening programmes and recommend how they should be organised, developed and improved.
The NHS has been world leading by introducing national cancer screening programmes which have saved thousands of lives.
The review will look at how latest innovations can be utilised, including the potential use of artificial intelligence, integrating research and encourage more eligible people to be screened. It will also look to learn lessons from recent issues around breast and cervical screening.