Thousands of lives to be
saved in biggest roll out of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
A major push
forward in the implementation of a screening programme for
abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), which will save the lives of
thousands of older men, was launched today by Health Secretary
Andrew Lansley.
The Health Secretary launched the largest phase of the screening
programme at Leicester Royal Infirmary, one of the first sites to
offer screening for AAA. This major roll out will cover 80 per
cent of the country, with screening available across the whole of
England by the end of March 2013. The NHS AAA screening programme,
which started in 2009 for men aged 65, aims to prevent up to half
of the 6,000 deaths every year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“One of the key outcomes of improvement in the NHS must be to
reduce avoidable mortality. Over the last nine years, in
Opposition and now in Government, I have long campaigned for AAA
screening, arguing how many lives it can save. So I am very
pleased to be able to today launch the third and biggest phase of
AAA screening, taking us to 80 per cent coverage of England by
April 2012.
“By March 2013 screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms will be
available for all men over 65 in England.
“Screening saves lives and improves the health of the nation – by
spotting an aneurysm early, it can be monitored, prevented from
getting worse and treated if necessary, saving the lives of
thousands of older men.
“Modernising the NHS will help ensure this screening programme is
delivered to the highest standards – with men found to have large
aneurysms being referred to high quality vascular services –
resulting in real improvements in patients’ health.”
This is the third phase of the programme and is by far the
largest. It involves 18 new local programmes being rolled out
across the country – doubling the current coverage to 80 per cent
of the country. Phase four will complete by March 2013 and will
mean the screening programme will be available across England.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms are formed when the major blood vessel
to the body weakens and expands. Around 6,000 people in England
and Wales, mostly men aged 65 and over, die every year from
ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
End
Notes to Editors
For further information, contact Department of Health press
office on 020 7210 5221.
Programmes by Implementation Phase
Early Implementation sites
(2009/10)
Leicestershire
Gloucestershire
South
Manchester
South Devon & Exeter
West
Sussex
South West London
Phase One (2010/11)
Heart of England
Peninsula
North
Central London
Greater Manchester (expansion of South
Manchester programme)
North East
Phase Two (2011/12)
East Yorkshire and Humber
North West
London
Hampshire
Kent & Medway
Hereford
& Worcestershire
Somerset
Phase Three (to start from October 2011 to March
2012)
Coventry &
Warwick
Bristol
Shropshire
Nottingham
Staffordshire
Derbyshire
West
Yorkshire
Central Yorkshire
Northamptonshire
Thames
Valley
Five Rivers
West Surrey
East
Surrey
Cambridgeshire
Black Country
Sussex
Cumbria
& Lancashire
Norfolk and Norwich
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk