Published on 28 August 2025
Thousands more people across England are being referred for potentially life-saving liver cancer checks after Cheshire and Merseyside was one of the areas that led the way with them.
The NHS has expanded its community liver health check programme, where roaming teams offer scans within the community
Almost 113,000 people have had a fibroscan of their liver, and almost 8,500 have been referred on for vital liver cancer checks since the programme began. Last year alone in Cheshire and Merseyside, 4,982 people were scanned, with 95 people found to be positive for liver cancer and a further 160 people at moderate risk of the disease.
The on-the-spot scans check for cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis which increases the risk of liver cancer. If liver damage is detected people are referred on for further tests, helping to catch cancers earlier and ensuring people can get the right treatment and support.
The NHS programme is targeting at-risk groups in the community, including people with high levels of alcohol consumption, a current diagnosis or history of past viral hepatitis, or non-alcoholic liver disease, as these factors increase the risk of developing liver cancer.
The mobile trucks move around different areas offering checks in GP practices, recovery services, food banks, diabetes clinics, sexual health clinics and homeless shelters to perform quick, non-invasive scans.
NHS teams delivering the scans are working closely with local community groups and charities to identify people most in need of tests and support, and some have also partnered with GP practices to scan people with conditions including type 2 diabetes and obesity.
NHS National Cancer Director, Professor Peter Johnson, said: “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.”
Patients found to be at an increased risk of developing liver cancer following a fibroscan are referred for further testing in a hospital clinic where they might be put on a liver cancer surveillance programme, which aims to detect cancer earlier when there is a higher chance of successful treatment. People who are deemed at low risk of liver cancer or cirrhosis will be provided with information about their level of risk and referred to their GP if needed.
Liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer related deaths in the UK. The most common primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which makes up 85% of all liver cancers.