The economic and workload impact of 'backdoor' prostate-specific antigen screening on the UK National Health Service: a single-centre experience

OBJECTIVE To determine the economic burden and additional cost on one hospital within the UK National Health Service secondary to prostate-specific antigen screening by a private recruitment company for a clinical drug trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were reviewed from all patients who were excluded from the trial and referred across by the recruitment company between May 2004 and April 2005. The additional cost for all their investigation and treatment was calculated. RESULTS There were 87 interventional procedures (transrectal prostate biopsy, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy), 27 diagnostic scans (magnetic resonance Imaging and bone scan) and 240 additional outpatient visits (new and follow-up) over the 1-year period. The calculated cost was approximately 271 pound 500. CONCLUSION This study highlights the significant increase in the workload and financial burden in one centre within the UK National Health Service. Many other hospitals are likely to be in a similar situation and the total cost to the health service will be much greater.