Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to a recent article published on Healthandcare.scot, which claimed that “Ministers say they will introduce a lung cancer screening programme in adults aged 55-74 with a history of smoking, in line with a recent recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee”, by what date the programme will commence, and whether it will include an incidental findings pathway for people diagnosed as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during their CT scan.
Screening Oversight and Assurance Scotland, supported by the work of an expert advisory group and led by the Director of Screening, is currently developing a business case for implementation of targeted lung screening. This is expected by the end of this winter, and will consider the matter of incidental findings. Following receipt of the business case, the Scottish Government and delivery partners across the NHS will have greater scope to make an evidenced-based assessment of implementation timescales.
The roll-out of any screening programme is a complex undertaking, and the UK National Screening Committee acknowledged in its recommendation that there remain a number of significant issues that must be worked through before a full programme of lung screening can be implemented. This means a national screening programme is likely to take years rather than months to implement.
In the meantime, lung cancer remains a national priority. The Scottish Government has a dedicated chapter in our £114.5 million National Cancer Plan, and in December 2023 we redesigned lung cancer diagnostic services to help ensure patients receive faster access to treatment.