Britain’s cancer screening programmes have fallen behind the rest of the world, with the uptake of smear tests for cervical cancer the lowest in 21 years, according to a damning review. Sir Mike Richards, the former cancer tsar, was asked to examine the system after a series of scandals and a decline in uptake of checks for breast, bowel and cervical cancer. He found a litany of failings, concluding that IT systems were so poor that it was “difficult, if not impossible” to monitor safety. His interim report calls for radical changes to boost the uptake of tests by making them more convenient, including online booking, and appointments out of hours and near workplaces. He also warned that a “long-term slow decline” in take-up of…

Source: The Times May 24, 2019 23:15 UTC