Pioneering scheme boosting prostate cancer screening in North Wales Police

A pioneering scheme to promote prostate cancer screening is helping to raise vital awareness of the condition in North Wales Police.

The force is working in partnership with prostate cancer awareness charity the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT) to offer PSA test screening in offices and stations across the police estate to male officers and staff aged over 40.

A PSA test is a blood test which can detect the early signs of prostate cancer. The test measures the level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in someone’s blood. PSA is made by the prostate gland.

Some of it will leak into the blood, and the amount depends on the man’s age and the health of their prostate.

This pioneering partnership between North Wales Police and GFCT has been emulated in other Forces around the country and is seen as a model of how to bring screening into the emergency services workplace.

The recognition shows the opportunities that exist to safeguard the health and wellbeing of men in their workplace.

It also helped demonstrate the importance of detecting prostate problems early on – an issue that has seen a recent rise in public awareness following the King’s recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin recently met to discuss the project, Susan Hart, a Trustee of The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust.

The PCC also attended a screening session that was taking place among officers and former officers at Mold Police Station.

They saw how the procedure is conducted in a work setting and how advice and support are given to the men attending.

The force was the first in the UK to introduce this life saving scheme thanks to former Head of Medical Services and Wellbeing, North Wales Police, Maria Hughes.

“As an organisation North Wales Police were extremely keen to support the workforce in a proactive way,” she said.

“Working with the charity has resulted in 12 lives being saved in North Wales Police through staff who did not actually display any symptoms.

“As we know the PSA is an indicator not a diagnostic tool but enables wider conversation with a staff members GP.

“The Force is also super proud to have been the first police force in the UK to take forward this project.”

Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “It is important for all organisations to value the health and wellbeing of their staff and the police is no different.

“As well as ensuring officers and staff feel both in good health and in good spirits, screening sessions like this also mean they are also able to serve the people of the region more effectively and detect any issues early.

“I am delighted that this very highly regarded partnership with the GFCT to screen the workforce is being emulated elsewhere in the country. It is a sign of how our pioneering work here in North Wales is leading the way for policing across the country.”

The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT) was set up by Graham and Sue Fulford to promote awareness of Prostate Cancer following the diagnosis of a close friend who died at the age of 58 and a close family member who died in 2007 from prostate cancer after a valiant fight.

Since 2004, together with partners, GFCT has been involved in testing over 138,557 men and conducting 283,114 tests (figures as of 28 May 2024).

Consequently, there have been over 3,027 known cancers identified that otherwise may not have been discovered.

To find out more about the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust and PSA screening, visit: www.psatests.org.uk/