I would like to inform the House that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has accepted the recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to introduce England’s first targeted prostate cancer screening programme. This decision has been taken after considering the evidence presented by both the UK NSC and patient advocate groups.

Men with a known BRCA2 gene variant and a relevant family history will be offered PSA screening every two years between the ages of 45 and 61. The programme is expected to begin roll-out in 2027 and will use an IT call and recall system that will systematically invite eligible men for tests. Those who have previously been advised they can get an annual PSA test will still be able to access them through their GP.

This is an important step forward, but we know that by accepting this recommendation there will be groups and individuals that will be disappointed that we are not going further. However, the evidence does not yet support a wider screening programme. Screening must do more good than harm, and with current tests and treatments, that threshold has not been met. Screening all men could lead to unnecessary treatment that does more harm than good - including incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

That is why, alongside introducing targeted screening, the Government is taking decisive action to strengthen the evidence base and improve outcomes for men at highest risk and to improve effective diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

We are announcing a major package of investment of over £20 million to expand research and improve treatment.

This includes an increased financial commitment of up to an additional £18 million to the TRANSFORM trial which is working to address the evidence gaps identified by the UK NSC. As a result of this investment, and with the help of grant funded investment a community level, all eligible Black men (UK residents between 45 and 74 years who have not had a PSA test or prostate MRI scan in the last 5 years) will be invited to take part in stage 2 of the trial. This investment will help to address long-standing inequalities in risk and outcomes.

The Secretary of State will soon be hosting a roundtable alongside the Deputy Prime Minister with representatives of local community organisations, supported by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), to hear directly from community organisations about how we should boost engagement and encourage Black men to be a part of this vital research that will find the best screening programme.

Furthermore, we are investing up to £2.8 million in focal therapy, a minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment. This will strengthen existing national provision, and reduce potential harms from treatment and support delivery of the TRANSFORM trial.

The Government has also taken significant steps to improve access to the most effective treatments for men with prostate cancer. Earlier this year, the NHS expanded access to the drug abiraterone for earlier-stage prostate cancer, representing a substantial improvement in outcomes for thousands of families affected by prostate cancer.

We recognise that the change in policy will mean the public may seek answers from their GP or health professionals. For men who are not eligible for the new screening programme but have concerns, they should continue to ask their GP for advice on the basis of their individual position and risk factors. In order to support this engagement, we are updating the guidance both to GPs and to the public in line with the new recommendation to make it clearer to follow.

It’s important that GPs are supported to make more informed clinical judgements when approached by men who don’t have symptoms but who are concerned about suspected family history for a PSA test – my officials are working with Cancer Research UK to move work on this forwards.

We will keep the evidence under close review, and the UK NSC’s model maintained, resourced and regularly updated as new evidence becomes available, so that we are ready to go further as soon as the science supports it.

With this package of measures we are expanding research, widening treatment options and tackling inequalities in prostate cancer care.

The Secretary of State and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the UK National Screening Committee for continuing to provide invaluable expert advice on screening programmes and everyone who participated in the consultation including charities and patient groups. Finally, we would like to pay tribute to all those who work to deliver high quality screening across the country, saving lives every day.

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