NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screens one millionth patient

Public Health England has announced that its NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) has now screened one million patients since its launch.

This week, the NHS AAA screened its one millionth 65-year-old male patient, having been introduced in 2009 with the aim of ensuring large aneurysms are detected and treated at an early stage.

More than 10,000 aneurysms have been detected through the scheme that need monitoring or treatment, while more than 2,000 men with large aneurysms measuring 5.5 cm or wider have been referred for surgery.

AAA screening is offered to all men registered with a GP during the year they turn 65. Those over 65 who have not been screened can refer themselves by contacting their local screening programme directly.

Dr Anne Mackie, director of screening at Public Health England, said: "The programme has been a major public health success story and has proved to be crucial in detecting and treating large aneurysms, saving the lives of many men."

Typically, eight out of every ten people with a ruptured AAA die before they reach hospital or fail to survive emergency surgery.