Cancer Reform Strategy - First Annual Report - Merseyside ...

CHAPTER 6: REDUCINg CANCER INEQUAlITIES41Box 13: Wave 1 of the Pacesetters Programme: breast cancer screening and peoplewith learning disabilities in WalsallWalsall Integrated learning Disability Service (IlDS) realised that they had some significant workto do to improve the uptake of breast screening by women with a learning disability. The keyaim of the project was to provide improved access and uptake to breast screening services inWalsall for women with a learning disability.A collaborative approach was taken between key partners – The Health Facilitation Team andcommunity nurses from Walsall IlDS and radiographers from the breast screening unit at WalsallManor Hospital NHS Trust.Engagement took place between female service users through the user group, “Making ourChoice”, to find out what the barriers were to accessing screening services. Simple, practicalsteps rather than complex interventions were identified that users felt could make a realdifference. These included:• awareness training for breast screening staff• “easy read” invitation letters and information material• health promotion groups• pre-familiarisation visits to help users overcome fear of the unknown• collaborative clinics facilitated by community learning disability nurses to support users andscreening staff.Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected as part of the evaluation of the project.So what was the outcome? In 1997, 62 women with a learning disability were eligible for breastscreening but only 19 (31%) were screened. Following the project, in 2007-08 the uptake forscreening by women with a learning disability, able or wanting to be screened increased to100% (54 successful screenings undertaken).The challenge now is to embed the lessons learned, maintain the improvement and share thelearning with other learning disability Trusts in the NHS.6.6 As part of Pacesetters Wave 2, thefollowing cancer issues have been identified tohelp reduce inequalities:• breast screening in the over 70s• breast screening in BME women• cervical screening for lesbians• screening for trans-men and trans-women• palliative care for cancer patients from faithgroups.Local action6.7 Cancer Networks, with PCTs, arereviewing the percentage change in mortalityrates since 1997, in order to assess theircontribution to achieving the 2010 PSA targets:to reduce cancer mortality and health inequalitiesin cancer and to improve life expectancy.Understanding progress and variations betweenCancer Networks and PCTs will underpin howthey, with PCTs, agree challenging goals forreducing cancer mortality in every Network areaby 2012.