Chinwag Spring 2019

Corporate news

Pioneering Manchester cancer screening pilot to be rolled out nationwide Manchester’s Lung Health Check (LHC) pilot, which quadrupled lung cancer early diagnosis rates, is being extended to 10 sites across the country in a drive to save lives by catching the condition early, as part of The NHS Long Term Plan.

68% of lung cancers were diagnosed at stage one and 11% were stage four. The Manchester scheme also picked up a range of other heart and lung

to the some of the areas with the highest death rates from lung cancer. The scheme means people aged 55-74 who have been identified as being at increased risk of lung cancer (smokers and ex-smokers) will be invited for a lung health check and be offered a chest scan if appropriate – this scan could take place in a mobile unit or in a hospital setting. The Manchester pilot was led by Greater Manchester Cancer, which is largely based at The Christie. In 2017/18, 2,541 patients were scanned, finding 65 lung cancers affecting 61 patients. Prior to the study, 18% of lung cancers were diagnosed at stage one and 48% stage four. After the study,

Around £70 million will fund 10 national projects that check those most at risk, inviting them for an MOT for their lungs and an on the spot chest scan that include mobile clinics closer to where they live.

conditions, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

In addition to the existing sites set up for the Manchester pilot (Wythenshawe, Gorton and

Four in five cancers were in the early stages (stage one and two), with one in five people having a previously undiagnosed lung condition and nine out of 10 at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The national rollout has the potential to reach around 600,000 people over four years, detecting approximately 3,400 cancers and saving hundreds of lives across the country.

Harpurhey), Tameside and Glossop CCG has now been selected as one of the 10 sites to take part in the first phase of the extension from 2019-20. This means that over 57,000 extra high risk people across Greater Manchester could benefit from this check in the future. The targeted screening will help improve survival rates by going first

You, Me and GatewayC – an interview with Lauren and Deborah

GatewayC is an online education platform for primary care staff, based at The Christie. The team works with a range of clinical oncology specialists and service users to develop the learning content within each course. Courses focus on early diagnosis, clinical decision making and effective communication. You, Me and the Big C podcasters Deborah James and Lauren Mahon recently sat down for an interview with GatewayC GP Lead Dr Sarah Taylor to discuss their own experiences of cancer and their key messages for primary care. Having each had very different experiences of the referral process, they raised the importance of GPs and other primary care staff being able to recognise red flag symptoms, the importance of questioning patients effectively to elicit symptoms and supporting and guiding patients through the next steps to take following referral and diagnosis. Lauren and Deborah’s feedback, along with other user representatives, will be used in future GatewayC courses.

This includes a new course on ‘Improving the quality of your referral’, designed to ensure that primary care provide all the necessary information and prepare patients properly before a referral into secondary care, to minimise any avoidable delays. To watch the full interview, visit www.gatewayc.org. uk/blog

You, Me and the Big C: Deborah James and Lauren Mahon

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