An NHS pilot in conjunction with Boots pharmacies will see a ‘sponge on a string’ test offered to people with persistent heartburn or acid reflux in a bid to help prevent cancer of the oesophagus.

NHS England said the test will be available in ‘dozens’ of Boots high street branches to check for Barrett's oesophagus, which can be a precursor to oesophageal cancer.

The outcomes of an independent evaluation of the pilot will inform decisions about any future pharmacy rollout of the test, said NHS England.

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The test, delivered by a health professional in under 10 minutes, involves patients swallowing a small pill on a thread, which expands into a penny-sized sponge when it reaches the stomach.

After several minutes, the sponge is pulled out to collect cells from the lining of the oesophagus, which are then tested in the lab for pre-cancerous changes.

This method of testing is currently used in hospitals and community diagnostic centres, and the pilot with Boots, along with gastrointestinal diagnostics company Cyted Health, will begin in early 2026 and run for two years.

Around 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will be offered the test on-site in a Boots pharmacy or be referred to a community-based clinic in their area.

The initiative will rely on pharmacists to spot patients who are regularly using over-the-counter medications to ease their heartburn or reflux symptoms but have not sought advice from their GP.

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Gastro-oesophageal reflux, also known as acid reflux, is a relatively common condition, affecting around two in every ten people. Persistent symptoms can be a sign of Barrett’s oesophagus.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national cancer director, said: ‘The NHS is catching more cancers earlier than ever before, and this new pilot brings a convenient test to where people shop, making it easier than ever for patients to check signs and symptoms that might be worrying them.’

The pilot will be accompanied by a locally led public health campaign, with the involvement of Heartburn Cancer UK, to raise awareness of the potential signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer.

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Cancer of the oesophagus is more common in older people, and men are more likely to have the cancer compared to women, with smoking, drinking alcohol and obesity among the factors that increase risk of the disease.

Among nearly 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, 80% are diagnosed at a late stage, where only 20% of patients survive the year.