Closed petition PE1863: Mandatory annual cancer blood test from the age of 55

Background information

Every year people get contacted to book in for a flu vaccination. I believe we need a similar system for people to get blood tests for detecting cancer.

This could enable people to have a better chance of treatment and a better quality of life. It would also save the NHS millions of pounds a year.

During the last year and half of the pandemic there has been a lack of testing for cancer. Yearly tests give people the best chance to detect cancer early resulting in a better chance of cure or treatment that can prolong life.

There are 2.5 million people in the UK living with cancer. The treatment alone is costing millions. With blood tests in place this could save money as if detected early the treatment process would be massively reduced and place less constraint on the NHS and staff.

The number of people in UK living with cancer grows 3% every year. In Scotland alone last year roughly 260,000 people were living with cancer. The number of people in the last five years over the age of 65 living with cancer has grown 23%. Over 360,000 people in UK are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Treatments on the NHS for alcoholism and drug addiction costs millions a year and that is a life choice. Cancer is not a life choice and I believe people should have the right to get blood tests for this once a year as routine.