Peel Ports Group to introduce free prostate cancer testing for all male staff

The UK’s second-largest port operator, Peel Ports Group is set to introduce free prostate cancer testing for all its male staff, thanks to a proposal from its own employees.

Believed to be the first UK port operator to introduce such an initiative, the Group has committed to investing in a testing programme, which will see Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test kits provided to male staff across all its sites in the UK and Ireland. The kits are being provided through a new partnership with The Errol McKellar Foundation.

The idea for the initiative was originally proposed by a member of staff at the Port of Liverpool with support from their trade union, Unite the Union. The programme will be officially launched at an event at the Port at the end of April, which campaigner Errol McKellar will attend to share his story with staff. When Errol, of Hackney, London, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 he made it his mission to raise awareness of the condition by offering 20% discounts at his garage to any customer willing to go for cancer checks. The now retired mechanic was given the all-clear from the cancer in 2011.

Phil Clark, a Technician at the Port of Liverpool and the secretary of Unite the Union’s Liverpool branch, said:

“This is a hugely worthy initiative and shows what’s possible when employer, employees and unions collaborate to bring about positive change within organisations. Prostate cancer affects one in six men in the UK, and early diagnosis is what enables life-saving intervention, so it’s crucial that testing is widely available and accessible. We’re very grateful to the Group and to the Errol McKellar Foundation for making this possible.”

David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group said:

“We’re very pleased to be offering free prostate cancer testing to all our male employees, especially since it’s been the result of an employee- and union-led initiative. Our colleagues’ health and safety is our number one priority, and their input is essential to our efforts to make the Group a great place to work, so it’s been fantastic to be able to turn this idea into a reality.”

Around 55,914 new prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in the UK every year, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

Visit The Errol McKellar Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK for more information and resources on prostate cancer symptoms, testing, diagnosis and treatment.