Written question WQ93199
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 2 days
Question
How is the Welsh Government working with health boards and health professionals in Wales to be proactive in contacting men at the highest risk of prostate cancer?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The UK National Screening Committee does not recommend asymptomatic men are contacted for investigation of prostate cancer. Therefore, we do not expect the NHS in Wales to contact asymptomatic men for investigation of prostate cancer. National guidance is available for the public and clinicians on the balance of harms and benefits involved in testing asymptomatic men for prostate cancer. This can be found at:
Prostate cancer risk management programme: overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Welsh Government’s approach to improving the detection of cancer, including prostate cancer, is based on supporting general practice in the identification of suspected cancer, improving the referral process for suspected cancer, improving access to diagnostic investigations, improving the data that allows better health board oversight of service delivery, and providing alternative referral options for instances when a GP suspects cancer but the symptoms are non-specific.