NHS AAA Screening Programme

The NHS AAA Screening Programme is being gradually introduced across England and aims to reduce deaths from ruptured AAAs through early detection.

The roll-out of the national programme began in March 2009 following research showing that it could reduce the rate of premature death from ruptured AAA by 50 per cent. The roll-out across the whole of England should be complete by 2013.

Each local screening programme operates as a collaboration between Primary Care Trusts, hospital trusts and Vascular Networks. The screening involves a simple, pain-free ultrasound scan of the abdomen to measure the width of the aorta.

The following areas have already started screening as part of the national programme:
• South Manchester
• Gloucestershire
• Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
• South West London
• West Sussex
• South Devon and Exeter
• Heart of England (North Eastern Birmingham, Solihull and South East Staffordshire)
• South East London

Men in all the above areas are offered screening during the year they turn 65 while those over-65 can request it.

John Black, President of The Royal College of Surgeons, gives his personal backing to the NHS AAA Screening Programme in the Autumn 2010 edition of A3, the Programme's quarterly newsletter. The newsletter also includes a feature on the Programme’s new national training provider and high level screening figures from 2008-09. Visit http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk/Newsletter to download and print out the newsletter or email aaa.screening@nhs.net to receive an electronic copy of the publication every quarter.