New NHS blood test trial to help spot cancers earlier

Press release published by Department of Health and Social Care, Office for Life Sciences, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at 08:34 UK time · 2026 Burnham Labour government.

What was announced

Tens of thousands of patients to take part in landmark trial to see if blood tests can spot cancers
Department of Health and Social Care, gov.uk

A world-leading new trial is being launched across at least 200 GP practices in England aimed at providing earlier diagnosis for a range of the most common cancers.
More than 20,000 NHS patients will take part in the trial to assess whether simple blood tests can spot prostate, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, stomach, liver, and other abdominal cancers.
Participating patients aged 45 and over who visit their GP with abdominal symptoms – such as persistent bloating or discomfort – will be offered the chance to take part in the trial.

Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.

“More than 20,000 NHS patients will take part in the trial to assess whether simple blood tests can spot prostate, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, stomach, liver, and other abdominal cancers.”
“Around 71,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic, stomach, liver, ovarian or bowel cancer in England each year, and there are almost 35,000 deaths from these cancers.”
“Currently, just 2-6% of urgent referrals for cancer result in a diagnosis.”
“Funded by the Office for Life Sciences through the Government’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the trial will receive up to £8.49 million of government funding and will cover a broad range of inner-city, rural, seaside and deprived communities.”
“It builds on progress already made, with 250,000 more people diagnosed on time or having cancer ruled out last year than in the year before the 2024 election.”
“The Chancellor recently announced £1 billion in public-private life sciences investment, supporting more than 1,000 jobs and the development of new treatments, bringing the total secured since the plan launched in July 2025 to more than £4 billion.”

Yvette Cooper (MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley (Labour)) · more news
Jonathan Reynolds (MP for Stalybridge and Hyde (Labour (Co-op))) · more news

Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Cancer research and treatment, Research and innovation in health and social care.

Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-nhs-blood-test-trial-to-help-spot-cancers-earlier
Published 2026-11-04 08:34:30 UTC
Read by this site 2026-11-04 08:45:07 UTC from GOV.UK
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