Access to life-saving liver scans is widening as the NHS accelerates its community health check programme.
Mobile units are now travelling the length and breadth of England, offering quick, painless liver checks in everyday settings such as GP surgeries, supermarkets, and even football grounds.
Over the past two years, the number of mobile liver scanning teams has nearly doubled, rising from 11 to 20.
These roaming units are now available in every region of England, making early detection of liver disease and cancer more accessible than ever.
NHS National Cancer Director, Professor Peter Johnson, emphasised the significance of the initiative: “By reaching out into communities and making it easier for people to get checked, we will catch more cancers at an early stage, when the chances of successful treatment are much higher, and this can save lives.
“This programme has seen thousands more people referred for important further tests, allowing them to get vital treatment sooner alongside the support they need from the NHS to lead healthier lives.
“It’s a great example of the health service increasing its focus on prevention, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.”
Rising need for liver cancer checks
Liver cancer is now the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) making up around 85% of cases.
With numbers continuing to rise, the NHS is focused on spotting cancers earlier through innovative programmes like these mobile liver scans.
How liver scans save lives
The mobile teams carry out fibroscans, a quick, non-invasive liver scan that detects cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis.
These conditions significantly increase the risk of developing liver cancer. If damage is detected, patients are referred for further hospital tests and, if needed, placed on a liver cancer surveillance programme. Detecting cancer earlier greatly improves the chances of effective treatment.
Since the initiative began, almost 113,000 people have been screened, with nearly 8,500 referred for urgent follow-up checks. Those found at lower risk still receive personalised advice and, where necessary, are referred back to their GP for support.
Reaching at-risk communities
The liver scans programme is designed to reach people who may not typically seek medical help but are at higher risk.
These include individuals with high alcohol intake, a history of viral hepatitis, or non-alcoholic liver disease.
NHS teams have taken mobile scanning vehicles into GP surgeries, diabetes clinics, food banks, homeless shelters, and recovery services.
To make testing as convenient as possible, some areas have even parked scanning units outside supermarkets, at football matches, and in workplaces.
By working closely with local charities and community groups, the NHS ensures that vulnerable groups are identified and supported.
In certain regions, peer support workers with lived experience of liver disease are also helping patients attend vital appointments.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, added: “We’re delighted to have worked closely with NHS England on this programme, which has successfully helped thousands of people access the care and support they need to protect their liver health and reduce their risk of liver cancer.
“Liver cancer often develops silently, and many people are only diagnosed at a stage when treatment options are limited.
“We know that the biggest risk factor is pre-existing cirrhosis, which is why detecting liver disease earlier is so vital. It’s crucial that these checks continue across communities to reach even more people at risk.”
Improving cancer diagnosis standards
The rollout of community liver health checks also supports the NHS’s wider ambition to speed up cancer diagnosis.
Recent figures show that 76.8% of patients – more than 218,000 people – had cancer either ruled out or diagnosed within 28 days, marking the best June performance since the Faster Diagnosis Standard was introduced. Over 53,000 patients also began cancer treatment within a month.
By taking liver scans directly into communities, the NHS is helping thousands avoid late-stage diagnoses and ensuring treatment starts as early as possible.
