Talking to people in Lambeth about cancer
On Thursday, 12 September 105 people attended an event at Brixton Library organised by GP practices from the Hills, Brook and Dales Primary Care Network to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening.
Signposting people to local cancer services
At the third of their cancer screening awareness raising event, Hills, Brooks and Dales PCN outreach team supported people who attended to speak to organisations including ovarian cancer charity Ovacome , Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, Macmillan, Carers’ Hub Lambeth, Cancer Don’t Let It Win, Prostate Cancer UK and Carers4carers on topics like breast, bowel, prostate and cervical cancer screening, as well as smoking cessation and lung health.
The PCN sent text invitations to patients registered at their GP practices who had not attended their screening appointments, as well as those who were due for bowel, prostate, breast, or cervical screening. Passers-by and other library users were also welcomed in to learn about the importance about the importance of screening for certain types of cancer, and to find out about reducing their risk of cancer and spotting cancer early, when it is most treatable.
Participants had the opportunity to hear about how small lifestyle changes can reduce their cancer risk and knowing what’s normal for their body. HBD PCN hopes that this will give people confidence to act quickly by booking a GP appointment to discuss their concerns.
One visitor to the event, Shola, said: “I was able to get support with a recent blood test result and one of the representatives was very helpful. She explained the type of blood test that was taken, what the readings were, what indicators to look out for. I felt reassured and was grateful for this service. Prior to this, I was worried about the result and although my GP surgery give a good service, I felt rushed during my telephone consultation with a GP and felt that the type of tests I was going for wasn’t explained well. Thank you for a very important community service”
There was also opportunity free health checks and further community support via PCN link workers and the Lambeth Together Health and Wellbeing Bus, which was stationed outside the library.
The message Hills, Brooks and Dales PCN and all the stall holders at the event want those who attended and everyone in Lambeth to remember, is that spotting cancer at an early stage saves lives. The PCN plans to run further events as part of their commitment to increasing the rate of early diagnosis of cancer in the borough.
More information about these events
HBD PCN will be producing a report on the impact of these events. please contact Ruth Vidal-Tunkara, Social Prescriber at HBD PCN: ruth.vidal-tunkara@nhs.net
Learn more about our cancer priority
This event was supported by Lambeth Together’s Neighbourhood and Wellbeing Delivery Alliance. Cancer screening and prevention is a priority for Lambeth Together, read more about this and more in Our Health, Our Lambeth Lambeth Together health and care plan 2023-28