The Welsh Government has decided to temporarily halt some of the population-based screening programmes in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was made on the lines of the government’s plans to suspend all non-urgent outpatient appointments, surgical admissions and procedures to redirect staff and resources towards managing the COVID-19 crisis. It also adheres to the UK Government’s guidance to stop non-essential social contact and travel.
The screening programmes that will be affected include Breast Test Wales, Cervical Screening Wales, Bowel Screening Wales, Diabetic Eye Screening Wales and Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening. Other programmes like the Antenatal Screening Wales, Newborn Bloodspot Screening and Newborn Hearing Screening programmes will continue owing to their short window of intervention and critical impact on neonatal health.
The situation will be formally reviewed after eight weeks, and the programmes are expected to commence again as soon as the COVID-19 response is over.
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething said: "As we face the challenge of dealing with this pandemic, the well-being of the people of Wales is my top priority. Many people who attend screening programmes are in a higher-risk category for coronavirus and it is essential that we minimise risk to those people at this time."
