NHS Launches New Cancer Screening Service

The NHS is set to launch a new 'ping and book' service for cancer screenings, starting next month, to enhance accessibility and encourage participation among women. This initiative will notify women through the NHS App when they are due or overdue for breast and cervical cancer screenings, with the ability to book appointments through the app expected to be available by early 2026. Currently, over a third of women do not take advantage of screening invites, leading to a significant number of eligible women—over 2 million—lacking recent mammograms. The program aims to digitize the reminder system, replacing costly traditional methods and potentially saving the NHS £130 million over five years. In the previous year, screening services detected nearly 19,000 cases of breast cancer, highlighting the importance of improved uptake. NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard emphasized the transformative potential of technology in making these life-saving services more accessible.