Click here to read the latest edition of the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s stakeholder newsletter. This edition includes updates on:
Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the publication of the 2022 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) results.
Now in its 14th year, the CPES results help organisations that commission and provide cancer services to understand what aspects of cancer services are working well and identify areas for improvement.
The NHS survey asks questions such as how and when the cancer was diagnosed, how involved patients felt in decisions about their care and treatment and how much information and support they were given.
The 2022 CPES survey was completed by 1,994 patients in Humber and North Yorkshire, equating to a response rate of 57%. Nationally, the survey was completed by 61,268 people (53% response rate).
The Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance-area CPES results can be viewed here.
The areas for improvement identified in the 2022 survey across the Humber and North Yorkshire area include:
CPES results are available at trust, Integrated Care System, Cancer Alliance and national level. They can be viewed here.
Lucy Turner, Managing Director, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the results of the 2022 national Cancer Patient Experience Survey. There are some encouraging results for our region and also results which identify areas of cancer care which we can improve upon.
“Once the results have been analysed, we will work with our Cancer Alliance partner organisations, including hospital trusts which provide cancer services in our region, to co-develop and implement improvement plans based on the results of this year’s survey.”
Find out more about the survey by visiting the CPES website.
As NHS colleagues prepare to take part in local parkruns across the country to celebrate the NHS turning 75, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance staff are marking the milestone birthday by setting an ambitious challenge that will see them complete a distance equivalent to 15,000 parkruns.
Being active can help to lower the risk of some cancers, including breast and bowel cancer, and that is why the Cancer Alliance team is aiming to collectively walk, run, swim or cycle 75,000km during the NHS’s 75th birthday year.
The challenge, which will see staff participate in a series of events throughout the year, is beginning with an event at Health House in Willerby on Tuesday, 4th July 2023. Using a treadmill and an exercise bike, the team will be in a race against time to clock up a total of 75kms in just seven and a half hours.
Dr Dan Cottingham
Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “We wanted to mark this special occasion by taking extra steps to promote the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle.
“Regular exercise can help someone to lose weight or stay at a healthy weight, which can lower the risks of many types of cancer, and there is evidence to show that doing lots of exercise can prevent breast and bowel cancer directly.
“Physical activity can also have positive benefits for people living with cancer, such as fewer side effects or a quicker recovery, and healthcare professionals may encourage exercise during different stages of cancer or treatment.
“The Cancer Alliance is excited to be embarking on a challenge that will encourage everyone affected by cancer to benefit from activities that not only help to look after our health and wellbeing, but also provide opportunities for socialising and developing new skills.”
Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the Department of Health and Social Care announcement (Monday, 26th June 2023) that a national targeted lung cancer screening programme will be introduced in the coming years, following the successful delivery of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in some parts of the country in recent years.
In Humber and North Yorkshire, the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme has already been established in Hull (early 2020) and North East Lincolnshire (early 2023). There are plans to introduce the service in North Lincolnshire in early 2024 and it is expected that the service will be available in all parts of our region by 2028/29.
Lung cancer prevention is one of the Cancer Alliance’s top priorities – as we have several areas in our region where smoking prevalence is well above the national average. Early detection of lung cancer is key – because often lung cancer is symptomless until it is at an advanced stage.
Click here to view the Department for Health and Social Care’s announcement.
If you ask someone what they talk to their hairdresser or beautician about, you might expect answers such as social events, holiday plans, and family updates. However, several salons in the Humber and North Yorkshire region will be adding cervical screening to their topics of conversation from this week.
Monday, 19th June 2023 marks the start of Cervical Screening Awareness Week and Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is working with hairdressers and beauticians from areas with the some of the lowest rates of uptake, to help encourage more women and people with a cervix (aged from 25 to 64) to book their cervical screening appointment.
With almost one in three people not booking their cervical screening appointment, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has equipped local hairdressers and beauticians with the information needed to talk about the benefits of cervical screening, and breakdown any barriers that may prevent someone from booking an appointment.
Cervical screening helps to prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV which causes nearly all cervical cancers. This means any cervical cell abnormalities can be treated. If left untreated, these cells can develop into cancer.
“I am so glad I went for my initial cervical screening.” – Meg Long, Hull
Meg Long, a mum of twins from Hull, attended her first cervical screening appointment at the age of 25 and said “Life is busy, and I could have easily let my cervical screening fall to the bottom of my to do list, especially as I was not looking forward to having it done, but I am so glad I went.
“After my appointment, I was invited back for a second screening which showed abnormal cells and HPV, so I was referred for a colposcopy and waited anxiously for the test.
“The whole thing was over much quicker than I thought it would be and all of the staff were lovely. A few weeks later, I was pleased to find out my results no longer showed HPV or abnormal cells.
“I am so glad I went for my initial cervical screening. It was not as unpleasant as I thought, and all of the NHS staff made me feel as comfortable as possible. Plus, getting the peace of mind when you get your results is worth it!”
Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “If you have been invited for a cervical screening and have not booked an appointment yet, please contact your GP practice without delay. If you have any questions or are worried that you may find the test uncomfortable, talk to the person doing the test so they give you the right support.
“We are excited to be working with local hairdressers and beauticians who can talk to lots of people about cervical screening. The more local Cancer Champions we have helping us raise awareness of NHS cancer screening programmes, the more likely we are to encourage uptake and improve outcomes for people in Humber and North Yorkshire”
The FeMale Ego Hair and Beauty team are encouraging important discussions about cervical screening
Donna Finn, owner of FeMale Ego Hair and Beauty salon in Hull, said: “My own experience of cancer meant I jumped at the chance to learn more about cervical screening. I want to support my clients to not only look good on the outside, but also be aware of how they can help look after themselves on the inside.
“I feel confident to talk about cervical screening and know I can signpost my clients to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust or the NHS website if they need more information they can trust.”
The Health and Social Care Secretary has today (Friday, 9th June) confirmed eight new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) will open by the end of the year – with four of them in Humber and North Yorkshire.
Since July 2021, more than 100 CDCs have already delivered more than four million additional checks, tests and scans for a range of conditions from cancer to heart or lung disease – helping to cut waiting lists.
The one-stop shops support quicker access to care and offer patients a wide range of tests closer to home.
The four new CDCs in Humber and North Yorkshire announced today by Health and Social Care Secretary. Steve Barclay, will be in:-
The government says it is investing £2.3 billion to transform diagnostic services, with 108 CDCs already up and running and a further 41 due to open. They have opened in a range of settings since the programme started in July 2021, including shopping centres and university campuses.
GPs can refer patients to a centre so they can access life-saving checks closer to home and be diagnosed for a range of conditions, rather than travelling to hospital.
The centres are not only more convenient for patients but are also more efficient for staff and free up clinicians’ time to help further cut the waiting lists.
In May, it was announced that funding has been secured for a new £19.4 million Community Diagnostic Centre to be built in Scunthorpe Town Centre. Over the coming year, services will be phased in at other CDCs in Humber and North Yorkshire, including Selby War Memorial Hospital, Askham Bar Community Care Centre near York, Withernsea Community Hospital, and East Riding Community Hospital in Beverley, supplemented by mobile MRI and CT services which are already available.
Mr Barclay said: “These new centres will benefit tens of thousands of patients, cutting out unnecessary hospital visits and delivering closer, more convenient care.
“Patients will be able to access a range of life-saving tests, including MRI scans, X-rays, and respiratory checks – speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.”
Sue Symington, chair of NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), added: “The Community Diagnostic Schemes across Humber and North Yorkshire represent an £80 million capital investment and – once fully up and running – will mean there’s extra capacity for around 900,000 additional tests, checks and scans a year.
“It’s a revolution in the way patients access diagnostic services and will speed up the detection of many serious illnesses meaning patients can start their treatment and recovery much sooner.”
NHS national director of elective recovery, Sir James Mackey, says the ‘one-stop shops’ are playing a “key role the NHS’s elective recovery plan”.
“Our elective recovery plan sets out how the NHS will deliver nine million more tests and checks per year by 2025, and the work of these diagnostic centres – some in convenient spots including shopping centres – are excellent examples of the innovative work being done across the health service to ensure patients get the tests and checks they need as quickly as possible,” he said.
Tracy, 50, from Beverley, East Yorkshire, was a regular sunbed user and never really took sun safety seriously until she developed skin cancer six years ago. Tracy is now sharing her story to help raise awareness of the importance of protecting your skin from UV rays.
Tracy said: “Looking back, I never thought of the risks involved of sitting in the sun or using a sunbed. I always thought of a tan as looking healthy but now I know, there’s no such thing as a healthy tan, a tan in fact shows that there’s been damage to your skin cells from UV rays, so it is far from healthy.”
Tracy had always been aware of a mole on her arm and had previously asked her GP to look at it. At the time the GP had no concerns. Towards the end of 2016, Tracy noticed that the mole had grown and had lost its colour in the middle. It had irregular borders, was around 1cm wide and was dry.
Tracy said: “I told a colleague at work, who insisted that I got it checked, so I made an appointment with my GP at the start of February 2017. The GP used a Dermatoscope to take a closer look at the mole. She said she would refer me for further investigations, ‘just in case’, little did I know how serious things were to become.”
Tracy saw a consultant approximately two weeks later and was told that her mole needed removing immediately. She was scheduled for surgery on 26th February 2017.
Tracy said: “The next few weeks went by and as time went on, I thought everything must be okay. However, on 9th May 2017 I was delivered the devastating news from a Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist, that I had malignant melanoma skin cancer. I was petrified as my friend’s brother had died following a skin cancer diagnosis.
“However, the nurse was excellent, she gave me lots of information and was available for any questions I had. I was also offered counselling at the Queens Centre at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.”
Tracy needed to have the surrounding margins from where the mole had been, removed. She recalled: “I was due to fly to Florida that week, I considered cancelling, but had a very excited nine-year-old at home and my consultant told me to go and enjoy the holiday.”
Tracy was booked in for surgery the day after she returned from America. The wide local incision meant she had to have the biopsy scar and surrounding tissue removed. Tracy explained: “The surgery was done under a local anaesthetic, and I had a six-inch scar on the top of my arm, but it was worth it to know that the cancer was potentially gone.”
Five weeks later, Tracy received a call to say that everything was clear. She continued to be seen for another year for observations. During this time a biopsy was taken on another mole, which was benign.
In 2019 Tracy was discharged from NHS care, but now sees a dermatologist privately, and has had six more moles removed.
Tracy said: “I now wear factor 50 sunscreen all year, and although I do still holiday abroad, I stay out of the sun in the shade, and cover up. To be honest I prefer sitting in the cool with a cocktail!
“If I could give advice to anyone, it would be that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Protect yourself with clothing and a high SPF, do not sunbathe and never use sunbeds. It really is not worth it.”
Find out more about skin cancer, sun safety and the steps you can take to protect yourself on the Skcin cancer charity website.
Tracy now enjoys the sun safely
Click here to read the latest edition of the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s stakeholder newsletter. This edition includes updates on:
Funding has been secured for a new £19.4 million Community Diagnostic Centre to be built in Scunthorpe Town Centre.
The centre – which is due to begin offering some services to the public this winter – will be a one-stop-shop for health checks, scans, and tests, providing you with access to a range of diagnostic tests closer to home, reducing the need to come into hospital and reducing waiting times.
Chief Executive of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, Peter Reading, said: “Our priority will always be to provide our patients with excellent standards of care – and we believe that moving some of our diagnostic services out into the community will allow us to do that.
“I’m delighted to say that we have been successful in bidding for £19.4 million from the national funding Community Diagnostic Centre programme to fund the scheme and have submitted a planning application to create a bespoke hub, off Lindum Street – right in the heart of Scunthorpe town centre.
“Our plans are at a very early stage but, should our planning application be successful, we will work with our partners in Primary Care, Community healthcare and North Lincolnshire Council to build the new facility, where we will be able to offer patients tests for a range of conditions, such as cancer, heart and lung disease – including X-Rays, MRI, ultrasound, and CT scans.”
Patients will be referred to the centre by their GP or consultant, and it will operate in parallel to our diagnostic departments at Scunthorpe General for inpatients and those requiring emergency care.
This will allow us to conduct an estimated 146,000 additional checks every year, enabling us to see more patients, more quickly, reducing waiting times and helping you to access the care you need in a more timely way.
This is not only more convenient for patients but is also more efficient for staff and frees up clinician time to help further cut the waiting lists.
Alex Seale, North Lincolnshire Place Director, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: “One of the biggest potential benefits to you as patients would be that you’d no longer need to come onto our busy hospital site in order to have these tests carried out. Instead, you’ll be able to go to the town centre, where parking is plentiful and there are excellent public transport links. This also has the added benefit of freeing up parking for those who do need to come to the hospital.
“There are also infection control benefits, as reducing the number of people coming to our acute hospital sites naturally reduces the risk of spreading infections.
“We are very excited about the plans and the benefits they could bring to you, and we look forward to hearing whether our application has been successful.”
Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Rob Waltham, added: “This is great news for North Lincolnshire residents and another positive note for the High Street with more Government cash backing the plans to build a new future.
“This new health centre will have a massive impact on residents’ access to critical health services, further improving health and wellbeing for thousands of people.
“It is also further good news for the town centre in Scunthorpe – a major investment, backed by government, which will drive more people into the town centre for more reasons.”
The funding for the scheme was announced today by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, who also revealed funding had been granted for a further five Community Diagnostic Hubs across the country.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:“I have pledged to cut waiting lists and these new Community Diagnostic Centres will do exactly that. By offering checks, tests and scans closer to home, we can speed up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease and ensure patients get their treatment quickly.
“These centres revolutionise the way the NHS delivers care and crucially, they are saving lives.”
Mr Barclay added: “Based in the heart of communities, they are making it easier for people to access life-saving checks and cutting out unnecessary hospital visits.
“They have already made a huge difference, delivering nearly four million tests, checks and scans since the programme started in July 2021, helping to deliver on the government’s commitment to cut waiting lists.”
Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS Medical Director for Transformation, said:
“The NHS delivered a record 2.3 million diagnostic tests in March, up more than 128,000 on the previous monthly record, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff.
“These new CDCs will continue to increase access to care by providing vital scans, X-rays, endoscopies and blood tests closer to patients’ homes, building on the progress we have already made to drive down the longest waits and diagnose cancer earlier.”
Email: [email protected]
Address: Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, Health House, Grange Park Lane, Willerby, Hull HU10 6DT
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