Sunak calls for targeted national screening programme for prostate cancer
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has urged Sir Keir Starmer to set up a national screening programme for those at high risk of prostate cancer.
Mr Sunak, who was recently made a Prostate Cancer Research ambassador, said thousands of lives could be saved as a result of targeted measures.
Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer are statistically more at risk of the disease, the charity said.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has previously said screenings could have a 'huge part to play in bridging health inequalities' and the UK National Screening Committee is 'examining the case for population screening'.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Sunak said: 'Prostate cancer is now our country's most common cancer and yet there is no national screening programme.
'We made progress towards this in government but yet there is more to do, which is why I'm delighted to have joined Prostate Cancer Research, the charity, as an ambassador.
'I'm grateful to the Health Secretary for his engagement thus far, and could I ask the Prime Minister to ensure that we do have a targeted national screening programme for the most-at-risk groups of prostate cancer?
'So that we can not only save the NHS money, make progress towards the Government's early diagnosis targets, but most crucially, save thousands of lives.'
The Prime Minister replied: 'Can I thank him for using his authority and reputation to support this vital cause which will make a material difference, and I look forward to working with him on it.
'We do share a commitment to detecting prostate cancer earlier and treating it faster – we must do that.
'Our national cancer plan will improve the way we treat cancer right across the country, and I'll make sure he is fully informed of the steps that we're taking, and we'll work with him.'
Mr Sunak said he was 'honoured' to have been made an ambassador and he hopes his work will 'prevent further needless deaths'.
Speaking earlier this week, he added: 'Men tend to ignore pain hoping it'll go away rather than going to see the GP, and that's a part of the reason why prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in the UK.
'We can do something about that. It is clear from a trial that I funded when I was in office, that early detection saves lives.
'Catching the cancer early drastically improved survival rates, however that survival rate drops by half if it's caught late. A targeted national screening programme will help save many lives.'
Last Thursday, Mr Sunak met workers at the laboratories of British cancer diagnostics company Oxford BioDynamics, where they are working on a new blood test.
The EpiSwitch PSE test can detect prostate cancer with 94% accuracy, which is a 'significant improvement' on the most commonly used PSA test, according to Prostate Cancer Research.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
With Zohran Mamdani's win in New York, voters spoke. Is the Democratic establishment listening?
Advertisement Even Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who pushed for Cuomo's resignation in 2021 after a state investigation concluded that he Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up A majority of voters rejected Cuomo in a primary with a larger than usual turnout on a day that was Advertisement Mamdani's victory — and, to be clear, he still needs to win the November election to become New York's next mayor — shows that Democratic voters are tired of the same old faces in the same old places. They want to vote for, and not just against, someone, and that's what Mamdani represents across a spectrum of voters and communities. His win recalls 2018, when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also a democratic socialist, defeated Joe Crowley, a 10-term New York incumbent, to become, at 29, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Later that year, Ayanna Pressley, the first Black woman elected to the Boston City Council, was also elected to Congress, besting Michael Capuano, who had represented the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District since 1999. Pressley, who trailed Capuano in the polls right up to the election but That could be what voters want from Mamdani — a different kind of leader who is relatable, engaging, and dynamic. He spoke with people, not to them. And he presented economic policies like rent freezes and free buses that ordinary New Yorkers — not billionaires — could embrace and understand. Meanwhile, Cuomo borrowed the GOP's politics of fear and tried to scare everyone to death. He Advertisement The former governor's dismissive tone had the tinny echo of Maybe voters didn't want a political nepo baby running on familiarity and name recognition. Maybe they rejected a man who left his previous job in disgrace over credible sexual harassment accusations. Or perhaps people needed the light and hope Mamdani offers in these difficult times instead of Cuomo's doom and darkness. In a CNN interview, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said, 'I know that this feels like a shock to a lot of folks but it doesn't seem like rocket science. [Mamdani is] focused on reordering economic power, he's dynamic, and he's a new voice. Check, check, check.' Democrats don't need a wildly popular podcaster, someone who could be their liberal Joe Rogan, to win again. They need candidates who generate passion and stand fast for the values of equity and justice that the Democratic establishment espouses but abandons when elections don't go their way. Related : Mamdani's road to Gracie Mansion — the New York mayor's residence — won't be easy. Cuomo appears likely to run an independent campaign, which is what Eric Adams, the problematic President Trump-appeasing incumbent, already has done. Mamdani will continue to face baseless accusations of antisemitism as well as hostility from bellicose billionaires like Advertisement So far, there's been more noise from Mamdani's detractors than from the leaders of the party he belongs to. They should recognize and replicate how he has connected, especially with young voters. In his Renée Graham is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Birmingham GP practice issues Mounjaro statement and the five boxes patients must tick
A Birmingham GP surgery has urged patients not to book appointments for weight loss drug Mounjaro after it was made available on the NHS. The medication was made available for weight loss prescription via GPs from this week. But Sutton Coldfield Group Practice, which includes a number of surgeries in the town, said it was not yet clear how it would be offered locally. READ MORE: Major update over Three Mobile compensation after network went down READ MORE: I live in 'UK's worst council house' in Birmingham - now the ceiling's falling in READ MORE: City station attacker who 'bit and clawed' police dies at bail hostel And it said it would initially only be available to those with a BMI of more than 40 and who had four weight-related health conditions. The full message, which the Practice issued on Facebook, read: "You may have heard that from June 23, 2025, GPs can prescribe Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight loss. "However, the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board is still finalising how this will be provided. It is expected to be offered through local clinics, as there has been no planning from the ICB to provide it via individual GP practices. "Initially, the treatment will be available only to people with a BMI over 40 who also have four weight-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes. "Please do not book appointments specifically to request this medication at this time, as this service is not yet operational. "We will notify you as soon as the service is available. When it starts, eligible patients will be invited to participate. Doctors will review patient records to identify those who qualify." Around 220,000 people with the 'greatest need' are expected to receive Mounjaro through the NHS over the next three years. It is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and and slows down how quickly food is digested. Patients previously needed to access the drugs through a special weight loss service. But leading family doctors said some GPs have expressed concern about the additional workload linked to the rollout. And pharmacy experts also said there could be pressure on supplies. Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'While we recognise the potential benefits of weight loss drugs, we know many GPs are concerned about the implications of the rollout of weight loss drugs into general practice, both in terms of workload and training to appropriately initiate and manage these treatments. 'The college shares these concerns, which is why we were pleased NHS England suggested a phased roll-out of Mounjaro as a treatment for weight loss. As and when this is escalated, appropriate resourcing for general practice – including access to 'wraparound' services – and training for GPs must follow. 'GPs and our teams are already working under intense workload and workforce pressures, and this must be factored into this rollout in order to guarantee it can be delivered safely. More widely, while weight loss medications have a lot of potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight and who meet all the clinical criteria for a prescription, they must not be seen as a 'silver bullet' to aid weight loss. 'We also need to see a focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don't require a medical intervention later.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Make healthy food more appealing, government tells supermarkets
Food businesses must make it easier for customers to buy healthy food, under new government plans announced on Sunday. Supermarkets and food manufacturers in England will partner with the government to tackle obesity rates by encouraging people to make their weekly shop healthier. Ministers say it will be up to food retailers to decide how they do that, but it could involve offering promotions on healthy food, tweaking loyalty points to incentivise healthy options, or changing shop layouts. It may also involve changing products to make them healthier. It is hoped the plans will help to make healthy eating more accessible to customers and relieve pressure on the NHS. The policy will see major food retailers report on healthy food sales in a bid to increase accountability, but it does not impose specific targets. The plan is part of a raft of measures aimed at improving the health of the nation that will be included in the 10-year plan for the NHS in England, which is expected to be published next week. "Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable," Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. "This government's ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. That is within our grasp." The upcoming report will show that more than one in five children are living with obesity by the time they leave primary school, rising to almost one in three in the most deprived areas. A recent report found a basket of healthy food costs more than double that of less healthy options. The Food Foundation reported that 1,000 calories of healthy food such as fruit and veg costs £8.80, compared to £4.30 for the equivalent amount of less healthy food, such as ready meals and processed meats. Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said the news is "really positive" but said "all food businesses" must work together to drive down obesity. "Engaging all food businesses makes a difference," Opie told the BBC. "It can't just be about supermarkets- we consume about a quarter of our calories outside the home, so unless we get all supermarkets, food retailers, and restaurants on board, we won't move the dial on obesity." Opie said that he agreed with the government's flexible approach on the standards, as businesses have "a lot of insights and data" into how we shop for food and what would be best for their customers. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance said: "The government has rightly identified the root cause of obesity-related ill health: a food system that makes healthy eating difficult." She said it was encouraging to see the government putting the spotlight on businesses "rather than placing the burden on individuals who are already struggling to get by." Alongside the new partnership, the government said it will also: Offer shopping vouchers to customers in return for being active and eating healthily, via a new app Double the number of spaces on the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, which supports obese individuals with either diabetes or high blood pressure Introduce stricter rules on advertising alcohol to in line with current regulation on promoting junk food It is hoped the new guidance will reduce people's sugar and calorie intake overall. The government cited research showing that cutting just 50 calories a day would lift 340,000 children and two million adults out of obesity. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by just 216 calories a day, which is equivalent to a single bottle of fizzy drink, obesity would be halved, researchers said. This is not the first time the government has sought voluntary partnerships with industry. Over the last 20 years there has been numerous food reformulation programmes aimed at reducing salt, sugar and calories in certain foods. Success has been mixed with a push to reduce sugar in certain foods by 20% between 2015 and 2020 falling well short. Sarah Woolnough, from The King's Fund think tank, said while welcome, the impact of the scheme may be limited. 'A lot of less healthy food and drink is purchased from local convenience shops and takeaways. 'The stark fact remains that unhealthy food is far cheaper and more readily available and so unless this change is part of a wider, comprehensive strategy it will not be enough.' Support not shame to tackle obesity - health chief
