Cancer screening programmes unite to boost uptake across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Cancer screening programmes unite to boost uptake across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

More people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are to be screened for potential cancers thanks to a new collaborative between cancer screening programmes led by University Hospitals of North Midlands.

The partnership brings together lung cancer screening, breast screening, bowel screening, and cervical screening services and aims to increase the number of people benefiting from life-saving checks.

By working together, the programmes will share resources, expertise and best practice to make screening more accessible and convenient for patients.

This collaboration coincides Channel 4’s Stand Up to Cancer campaign, launching Friday 5 December, which places a strong emphasis on the importance of early diagnosis, demystifying clinical consultations, and promoting a simple online Screening Checker tool to help people understand which NHS screenings they are eligible for.

Gina Newman, UHNM Breast Screening Health Improvement Lead, said: “Locally, in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire we have around 70 per cent of women attending their breast screening appointment, this means one in three eligible women are not screened.”

Gina added: “By working collaboratively as a team we can enhance efficiency, innovation and by adopting a coordinated approach to addressing health inequalities we can aim to increase participation in all our screening programmes. By aligning our efforts, we can achieve greater results collectively.”

Angela Power, UHNM Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Lead, said: “Sadly, we know people living in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to die from cancer before the age of 75, compared to those in the least deprived areas."

 “Cancer screening remains one of the most effective ways to detect cancer early and reduce its impact. By joining forces locally and supporting the national Stand Up to Cancer campaign, we can break down barriers to screening and make it easier for people to take up these vital opportunities.”

For more information about cancer screening programmes and how to book an appointment, visit:
www.uhnm.nhs.uk