Healthy Communities Collaborative
“Promoting early presentation of cancer symptoms.”
The Healthy Communities Collaborative aims to promote the earlier presentation of symptoms of bowel, breast and lung cancers in primary care, in order to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment, by:
• Identifying people at risk of bowel, breast and lung cancer and put them in contact with primary care services
• Ensuring people presenting with symptoms of cancer are referred according to best practice guidelines
Why?
• Communities are vital to improving health, and can play a significant role in promoting an individual’s self-esteem and mental well-being by reducing exclusion
• Help and encouragement from friends, neighbours and work colleagues can make a significant difference in ensuring that individuals feel supported in making positive choices about their lifestyles.
• Identifying a topic of importance to a community will prompt community action.
What difference does it make?
• An increase in the number of urgent referrals through primary into secondary care for suspected cancers of the bowel, breast and lung.
• A measurable improvement in social and human capital in the designated ward areas.
Who?
All local citizens.
Where?
In the City of Salford – in these three ward areas:
• Broughton and Irwell Riverside
• Langworthy and Ordsall
• Little Hulton
How?
• Develop multi-agency teams that are responsible for the identification and targeting of priority groups in their communities
• Raise awareness and educate people about earlier recognition and presentation of cancer symptoms
• Work with cancer networks and screening programmes, and support primary care in the implementation of best practice
• Learn and test during action periods, interspersed with learning workshops
Contact: Susan Slater (Healthy Communities Collaborative Project Manager) on 0161 743 0088 or susanslater@chapltd.co.uk
Commissioned by the Improvement Foundation
This page was last updated on 20 August 2008
