19
Nov 2014
Risks of NHS screening need to be highlighted
According to a new report from the Science and Technology Select Committee, as well as the benefits for diseases such as cancer, more needs to be done to highlight the risks of screening.
Although it is helpful in early-stage diagnosis of diseases, it can also lead to “false results, misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.”
Andrew Miller MP, committee chairman, said “Like any medical intervention, screening carries both benefits and risks, whether that is for breast cancer, for aneurisms or hypothyroidism in newborns. However, health screening is seen in such a positive light by the public that it can be challenging to convey the negative side of the equation.
“While screening can increase the likelihood of curing, preventing or delaying the progression of disease for some patients, for others is may lead to false results, misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. More needs to be done to ensure that both the benefits and risks are clearly, and even-handedly, communicated so that people can make an informed choice about whether screening is right for them.”
The committee has recommended that the UK National Screening Committee (NSC), which surveys the effectiveness of screening programmes within the NHS, to “step up its education programme” and make sure all health professionals who deal with the public “receive regular training to refresh their communication skills, as well as their understanding of available screening programmes and their associated benefits and risks.”
A leaflet for breast cancer screening for the 50-70 year age group has recently been revised, focussing more on assisting women to make an “informed choice” about whether screening is right for them, and this marks a step in the right direction. However, the inquiry has found that this principle has not been applied to the communication methods used by other screening programmes within the NHS.
Miller went on to say “Producing accurate, concise and accessible public information on screening will always be challenging, but the UK National Screening Committee must ensure that is standard process across the NHS for achieving this and facilitating informed choice.
“Ministers must also do more to ensure that all front-line health care professionals delivering screening programmes receive regular training to refresh their communication skills.”
Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee, Dr Richard Vautrey, said “As the BMA has repeatedly warned, it is vitally important that people being invited for screening fully understand the pros and cons of the procedure. Patients must also be aware that there is a risk that false positive results could lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful further investigations.
“The BMA would welcome a full review of the benefits of the current NHS Health Check programme as many GPs have doubts as to its benefit and cost effectiveness. More also needs to be done to protect patients from companies promoting inappropriate health screening when in fact the evidence of benefit is often lacking.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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