A national NHS trial will see patients in England given edible miniature cameras to check for signs of colon cancer.

The Pillcam Colon 2 technology, from US medical device firm Medtronic, takes images as it passes through the bowel which are transmitted to a recording device worn by the patient at their waist. After the camera has passed through the body it can be flushed away.

An initial group of 11,000 patients in more than 40 areas in England will receive the capsules, which can replace a traditional endoscopy and provide a diagnosis within hours.

Pillcams are already being used the endoscopy team at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation trust (UCLH), as well as by the NHS in Scotland and health clinics internationally.

WHY IT MATTERS

A study by the University of Oxford found the number of people being diagnosed with bowel cancer in England has fallen sharply since the first lockdown. 

Traditional endoscopies mean patients need to attend hospital and have a tube inserted, whereas the Pillcam technology help to speed up checks and detect cancers at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Cancer campaigners say tens of thousands are living with undiagnosed cancer due to the impact of COVID-19.

Last year, UK-based, digital cancer care platform, Careology, launched a platform for clinicians to remotely monitor their cancer patients’ health in real-time.

Meanwhile, digital healthcare provider, Livi announced a collaboration with UK retailer Boots, and Macmillan Cancer Support, to offer free information and support for cancer patients via its online platform.

ON THE RECORD 

Sir Stevens, said: As we come out of ‘peak COVID’ and the disruption of the pandemic, the NHS is now pushing ahead with genuine innovation to expand services for many other conditions. That’s why we’re now trialling these ingenious capsule cameras to allow more people to undergo cancer investigations quickly and safely.”

UCLH clinical lead Ed Seward said: “Not only does colon capsule increase our diagnostic capacity, because it doesn’t require the resources of a dedicated hospital space to do the examination, it also allows us to do the examination in the patient’s home, so patients who may be shielding or cautious about going to a hospital, can perform the procedure in the comfort of their own homes.”

Dr Alastair McKinlay, president of The British Society of Gastroenterology, said: “Colon capsule is a promising new technology that may offer a real advantage for some patients. For this reason, we welcome the opportunity for a proper service evaluation so that both the limitations and advantages of this technique can be properly assessed.”

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “This has the potential to make a huge difference for people with bowel cancer symptoms and could help the NHS to prioritise those who urgently need further tests.”