Ten died of cancer after NHS England blunder meant they were not invited for screening

Ten people have died from cancer and up to 10 more have been diagnosed with the disease after a blunder meant they were not invited to NHS screening programmes.

Health officials failed to invite more than 5,000 patients in total for routine checks after an IT error affected bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening programmes, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.

In a written ministerial statement on Tuesday, health minister Ashley Dalton said that NHS England had written to those affected this week.

The letters were sent to patients who are still eligible for a screening programme, or who were previously eligible for a programme but now exceed its upper age limit. NHS England has also set up a helpline.

The mistake occurred when the GP registration process of the patients was “not completed correctly, meaning their details were not passed to NHS screening system”, Dalton said.

“Records indicate that up to 10 patients have been diagnosed with a relevant cancer and were not invited for certain screening,” she added.

“The impact on these patients is not yet known and a clinical harm assessment process will be undertaken, based on expert clinical advice.

“It is with deep sadness that I must report that records also indicate that around 10 people who were not invited for screening may have died from a relevant cancer.”

The Guardian understands NHS England was first warned about the issue last summer when people contacted the health service to say they had not been invited for screening.

NHS England commissioned an investigation but only identified an issue within GP registration in late December.

“Since then, work has been undertaken to identify the individuals affected,” Dalton said. “Where relevant, work is ongoing to assess any clinical implications of their delayed screening.”

The blunder was related to when patients register at a new GP practice.

GP registrations returned to some practices by Primary Care Support England for further information or review had not been completed, or the GP practice had not sent a message to complete the patient’s registration.

Incomplete registrations were not passed to the NHS screening programme IT systems and, therefore, some people were not been invited to their routine screening, the Guardian understands.

Processes have now been put in place to ensure that new GP registrations will be closely monitored and updated on systems as necessary, health officials said.

Steve Russell, NHS England’s director for vaccinations and screening, said the NHS was contacting 5,261 people who had not been invited for screening.

“This issue has now been fixed and everyone affected will be offered support and any catch-up screening as soon as possible, including where they may now be above screening age.

“We would like to extend our sincere apologies to those affected for this error and any additional worry this may have caused – anyone who is concerned they may have missed an invitation to screening can call our dedicated helpline for support and further information.

“Around 15 million people are invited to NHS screening every year and it is important that everyone eligible can access these life-saving programmes.

“The NHS has issued guidance to GP practices and integrated care boards to ensure all patient registrations are fully completed and has put in place new measures to make sure all eligible people are invited for screening.”