According to one report, health screening "does not meet objectives"

According to a report by the National Audit Office, none of the three main health screening programs in England – gut, bad or cervical – has achieved its goals last year.

There were also delays in cervical cancer screening results reaching half of the women tested, with a backlog of nearly 100,000 samples.

Screening of the bowel gave the best results, scarcely reaching its target of 60%.

A health think-tank said the report was "extremely worrying".

The ministers said, however, that they are committed to making improvements to keep screening programs "among the best in the world".

The report comes after two recent incidents of bad and cervical cancer screening raised concerns about the management and organization of both programs.

Delayed results

While screening for colon cancer and bad cancer had reached its minimum targets in 2017-18, 72% of women surveyed had been screened for cervical cancer, compared to an 80% target and a target. 75% lower.

Many women also experienced delays in obtaining results after Pap smears or cervical screening.

According to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the results should be received within 14 days, but this goal has not been achieved since 2015.

In March 2018, one-third of women received their results on time, rising to just over half (55%) by the end of last year.

But in October, 98,628 samples were still waiting to be tested in labs across England, the report said.

It is believed that a change in the way tests are performed affects staffing in the labs, resulting in delays.

The report also highlights a variation in the percentage of people screened across the country, with the lowest coverage levels being mainly in London.

It also describes the problems badociated with complex and aging computer systems. The cervical cancer screening program relies on approximately 350 different systems to make it work.

Complex computer problems would have prevented 5,000 women from being invited to bad cancer screening.

The report also raises questions about how screening programs are managed and monitored.

However, the report indicates that NHS England and Public Health England were successful in introducing colon screening, although only half of GP practices were linked to a screening center providing the service in 2016-17.

By September 2018, 166,000 people had been invited to this type of screening on a target of nearly 500,000 people.

& # 39; unacceptable & # 39;

Rebecca Fisher, general practitioner and policy researcher at the Health Foundation, said the report painted a "deeply troubling picture of the state of screening programs in England, with missed targets, uneven coverage, and computer systems." aging. "

She added that screening can save lives, but that the public should be able to trust the quality of the services offered.

"Today's report underscores an urgent need to invest in the information technologies and equipment needed to make improvements," she said.

"Policymakers also need to think about how to most effectively manage screening programs to ensure that these life-saving services are also available across the country."

Meg Hillier, Chair of the MPs' Public Accounts Committee, said, "Screening programs are not always able to detect people who are not invited to an appointment for screening or to be seen. ensure that the results of their tests arrive in time.

"It is unacceptable that these important screening programs are being abandoned by complex and aging computing, and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, NHS England and Public Health England need to address this situation."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Services said, "Our screening programs are widely recognized as among the best in the world and we are committed to making the necessary improvements to keep our offering to world clbad patients.

"Prevention and early diagnosis of cancer are key priorities for this government and we are already working closely with NHS England and Public Health England to address the issues highlighted by this helpful report."