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3,000 men screened for AAA

Men are being reminded not to miss out on their invitation to attend for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening.

Attendances are improving but health chiefs say they could still be better. The scan is free and aimed at reducing the number of deaths from aneurysms. Invitations are automatically sent to men aged 65 or in their 65^th year.

The scans are vital to detect early signs where an aneurysm could be developing and if left undiagnosed they can prove fatal.

Around 27% of patients are currently failing to take up the appointment and this drops to 13% after a reminder is automatically sent out. So far around 3,500 men have been invited for screening.

Programme lead, Kathryn Aldous, from the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Attendances are getting better which is good to see but we should be aiming for 100 per cent take up. It is a quick, simple, pain-free scan across the stomach and could save your life.”

Since the screening programme started in January in West Yorkshire 42 men in Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford, Airedale and Craven areas are now on a “surveillance programme” which means being scanned annually as their ultrasound scans showed enlargement.

The programme has also referred three patients for surgery to repair their  aneurysms.

Men, who are over the age of 65, can also self-refer and to do so should contact 01422 224204