New Health Secretary ‘could overrule decision to reject mass prostate cancer screening programme’ that campaigners say would ‘condemn thousands of men to avoidable death’

Ministers could overrule the decision to reject a mass prostate cancer screening programme that could ‘condemn thousands to death’. 

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he would not rule out overturning the recommendation which campaigners branded a ‘profound disappointment’. 

He said the decision was for new Health Secretary James Murray who would meet advisers next week to discuss the announcement. 

Asked by LBC if the recommendation could be overruled, Mr Bell said: ‘I’m not going to prejudge the decision of the Health Secretary, that’s for him to do after he’s met with the chair of the national screening committee.

‘I’m certainly not ruling it out, because that’s a decision for the Health Secretary.’ 

He also said that a member of his family had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was being treated as he said the Government was taking the issue ‘very seriously’. 

Campaigners erupted in fury earlier this week after government advisers rejected calls for a major screening programme, branding it ‘a real step back’. 

They argue that the decision condemns thousands of men to an avoidable death after it emerged only a few thousand men will be invited for checks. 

The Daily Mail is among those campaigning for a national screening programme to end needless prostate cancer deaths. 

Mr Bell’s words will give them hope that Mr Murray will overrule the decision when he meets the chair of the national screening committee next week. 

The power rests with ministers to overturn the recommendation to scale back plans to roll it out nationwide. 

On Thursday, the screening committee published its final recommendation which is that only men aged 45-61 with BRCA2 gene mutations and a family history of certain cancers should qualify. 

This means as few as 3,000 will be invited for screening – a dramatic scaling back on draft guidance from last year which would have meant testing for 30,000 men. 

The committee said widening screening could lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment which could lead to other problems. 

Mr Murray will meet the chairman of the UK National Screening Committee on Monday before deciding whether to follow its recommendation – or overrule it. 

The Department of Health said he ‘will give full and careful consideration to the recommendation’ and will update on the Government’s response shortly. 

It had been understood that he was likely to take the committee’s advice but commit to following emerging evidence.

But following an outcry on Thursday – including by Rishi Sunak, who campaigns on the issue – Mr Bell suggested the Government could row back. 

The former prime minister branded the decision ‘deeply disappointing’ and was joined by fellow former prime minister David Cameron, who has been treated for prostate cancer. 

Comedian Sir Stephen Fry and Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, who have both battled the disease, also supported calls for a national screening programme. 

Last year a major study showed prostate screening slashes the risk of dying from the disease by 13 per cent, with one death prevented for every 456 men checked – a figure comparable to existing breast and bowel cancer screening programmes.