Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
I am pleased to announce the Welsh Government will introduce a national lung cancer screening programme in Wales, targeted towards those at greatest risk of the disease.
Work will start immediately to develop and introduce the programme, which will be Wales’ fourth population-based cancer screening programme. My decision follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and the successful pilots in the north Rhondda valley and elsewhere in the UK.
The UK NSC recommended implementation of targeted lung cancer screening with an integrated smoking cessation service for people aged 55 to 74 who are identified as being at high risk of lung cancer – they are either current or previous smokers.
Lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Wales but is by far the leading cause of cancer deaths. Sadly, most cases of lung cancer in Wales are detected at a late stage when the cancer has spread beyond the lung and are rarely curable. A national screening programme is key to detecting lung cancer at a much earlier stage and to improving people’s outcomes and survival rates.
I have asked Public Health Wales to move immediately to implementation planning. This will ensure the necessary infrastructure, workforce, and support systems are in place to deliver screening safely and effectively across Wales. Screening will involve a low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan of the chest using mobile scanning units to support equitable access for communities in all parts of Wales.
We will adopt a phased approach to implementation based on age, starting with the upper age range and gradually reducing it over time – this is the same approach we took to the expansion of the bowel cancer screening programme.
Implementation will take place in three stages to allow the NHS in Wales to increase capacity to report scans and follow up on the results promptly. I have agreed to provide funding of £2.3m in 2025-26, to expand the current project team and begin the programme. The programme is expected to cost around £13m per annum once fully implemented.
I anticipate the first people to be invited to take part in screening in 2027. The programme will have in place standardised protocols for dealing with incidental findings of other conditions, such as COPD.
Importantly, the programme will also provide a valuable opportunity to support people to stop smoking. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer and embedding access to smoking cessation services in and alongside the screening programme is a key part of our approach.
The funding for the programme will enable the Help Me Quit hub to start targeted smoking cessation support for eligible smokers. This will take place in advance of the start of screening and support Public Health Wales in identifying the best approach to scaling up the service alongside the screening programme. This will ensure those at the highest risk are offered effective support to quit, lowering their future risk of lung cancer and improving their overall health and wellbeing.
Public Health Wales will lead on the detailed design and roll-out of the programme, working in close collaboration with the Welsh Government, the NHS and key stakeholders.