Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is stepping up efforts to raise awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening among older men working in large industrial settings, where uptake of this potentially life-saving test remains low.
Despite every man in England being invited for AAA screening upon turning 65, many working in factories or remote industrial sites may miss their appointment due to misplaced letters or lack of access to mail while on site. With AAA symptoms often undetectable until it’s too late, early screening is vital.
To tackle this issue, NHS screening teams have begun visiting major employers such as Numatic in Chard and Hinkley Point C in Bridgwater, bringing the message directly to the workforce. These outreach efforts aim to ensure that men in high-risk groups are informed and empowered to take up their screening invitation.
Feedback from staff at both sites has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about AAA and the importance of early detection.
Bryan Shennington-Price, one of Somerset’s AAA screening practitioners, commented:
“The national screening programme is run throughout England and Wales, where every man who reaches the age of 65 gets an automatic invitation for a scan.
“One of the reasons the national screening programme was commissioned is because AAA is a life-threatening condition, and although it tends to be symptomless, it can grow over time. A person may have an aneurysm without experiencing any symptoms and unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, it can already be too late to prevent a life-threatening emergency.
“Our screening programme, which covers the whole of Somerset and North Devon, has a really good uptake rate, and we’re usually within the top three performing programmes in the country with around 88% of patients usually attend their appointments.
“From our perspective, we’re focusing on reaching those who either haven’t made a choice yet or may not be fully aware of the options available to them. The reason the national programme doesn’t screen women is because men are six times more likely to have an aneurysm in that area of the body.”
AAA screening is a quick, painless ultrasound test that can detect swelling in the aorta before it becomes life-threatening. The NHS encourages all eligible men to attend their screening and is working to remove barriers to access, especially in industries where awareness may be low.
This initiative reflects the NHS’s commitment to preventative healthcare, ensuring that life-saving services reach those who need them most—wherever they work.
Image credit: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
