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Renewed push for artery screening | Renewed push for artery screening |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Campaigners are stepping up pressure on health ministers to begin a new screening programme in the UK. | Campaigners are stepping up pressure on health ministers to begin a new screening programme in the UK. |
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, which causes one of the body's main blood vessels to weaken and burst, is the third most common cause of death for older men. | Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, which causes one of the body's main blood vessels to weaken and burst, is the third most common cause of death for older men. |
Few outside the medical profession are aware of the condition, but the Vascular Society is calling for men in their mid 60s to be screened for it. | Few outside the medical profession are aware of the condition, but the Vascular Society is calling for men in their mid 60s to be screened for it. |
All four UK health departments are considering the matter at the moment. | All four UK health departments are considering the matter at the moment. |
Campaigners say that checking whether men have a risk of a burst blood vessel in their stomach would cost half the price of the breast cancer screening programme - and would save as many lives - at least 3,000 a year. | Campaigners say that checking whether men have a risk of a burst blood vessel in their stomach would cost half the price of the breast cancer screening programme - and would save as many lives - at least 3,000 a year. |
The abdominal aorta carries blood to the intestines and other organs nearby. | The abdominal aorta carries blood to the intestines and other organs nearby. |
Aneurysms, which mean the arteries weaken, are common in this part of the body. It is catastrophic when they burst, with most patients dying before they can get to emergency care. | Aneurysms, which mean the arteries weaken, are common in this part of the body. It is catastrophic when they burst, with most patients dying before they can get to emergency care. |
At Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, doctors are impatient to get on with screening, and are about to begin their own programme. | At Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, doctors are impatient to get on with screening, and are about to begin their own programme. |
A vascular surgeon, Matthew Waltham, applied to Guy's and St Thomas' Charity to get a three-year grant for screening. He expects to see about 40 patients a week from two boroughs in south London. | |
He said: "Screening is relatively simple. All that is involved is a straightforward ultrasound scan. | He said: "Screening is relatively simple. All that is involved is a straightforward ultrasound scan. |
"We hope this pilot service will increase detection and early treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms to help save lives and reduce the burden on hospital time and resources." | "We hope this pilot service will increase detection and early treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms to help save lives and reduce the burden on hospital time and resources." |
The Vascular Society, which represents specialists in this area, wants to see such schemes offered everywhere. | The Vascular Society, which represents specialists in this area, wants to see such schemes offered everywhere. |
The society's honorary secretary, Jonothan Earnshaw, works in Gloucestershire where a screening programme has been running since 1990. He accused ministers of unnecessary delays in implementing a full screening programme. | The society's honorary secretary, Jonothan Earnshaw, works in Gloucestershire where a screening programme has been running since 1990. He accused ministers of unnecessary delays in implementing a full screening programme. |
Mr Earnshaw said: "Ruptured aneurysm is a common and deeply painful way to die. | Mr Earnshaw said: "Ruptured aneurysm is a common and deeply painful way to die. |
"UK patients have been left waiting for this. AAA screening has been recommended by the independent National Screening Committee, but the Department of Health are dragging their feet on implementation." | "UK patients have been left waiting for this. AAA screening has been recommended by the independent National Screening Committee, but the Department of Health are dragging their feet on implementation." |
A Department of Health spokesman responded: "We fully appreciate the serious nature of this condition. | A Department of Health spokesman responded: "We fully appreciate the serious nature of this condition. |
"Work is in progress to assess the implications of implementing AAA screening in England. | "Work is in progress to assess the implications of implementing AAA screening in England. |
"This assessment has to take account of the likely impact on existing healthcare services and the infrastructure and staffing requirements for a programme." | "This assessment has to take account of the likely impact on existing healthcare services and the infrastructure and staffing requirements for a programme." |
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