£2 million has been invested in equipping GPs with the digital tools to flag pancreatic cancer early in patients over 60 who have recently developed diabetes and lost a lot of weight.

300 GP practices in England will start to proactively search patient records to identify individuals most at risk of pancreatic cancer by looking for warning signs: weight loss alongside a diabetes diagnosis.

In the UK, pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with a five-year survival rate of just seven pr cent. More than half of patients die within three months of diagnosis, largely due to late detection.

The pilot programme will see GPs regularly search records. Even if weight loss is not recorded, GPs will contact patients will new-onset diabetes to check for unintentional weight loss and offer urgent blood tests and CT scans.

The aim of the three-year pilot is to test whether systemic record review can lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes, which buildings on existing GP knowledge while also taking advantage of IT systems to identify at-risk patients before symptoms become severe.

NHS national clinical director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, commented: “Pancreatic cancer is responsible for so many deaths because patients don’t usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is why we need to find new ways to pick it up.

“Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan the NHS is determined to go a step further—not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people, out who might be unwell without any sumptuous so we can provide people with the most effective treatment.

“The NHS is seeing and treating more people with cancer than ever, and early diagnosis is key to ensure patients have the best chance of receiving effective treatment.

“If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.”