Cancer Reform Strategy - NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

CHAPTER 3: DIAGNOSING CANCER EARLIER 553.63 Findings from the national audit will thenbe used to make decisions about how best toprovide more support to primary careprofessionals to ensure early diagnosis of cancer.We will discuss with the RCGP how lessons fromthe audit could inform the education andtraining of GPs, including through continuousprofessional development and appraisal. Theaudit could also assist in the development ofdecision aids to support healthcare professionalsin assessing symptoms and making decisionsabout further investigation or referral.Working with other primary careprofessionals3.64 Although GPs may play the key role inhelping diagnose cancer, other primary careprofessionals can also play an important role.For example, the role that pharmacists haveplayed in helping promote awareness of thesigns and symptoms of lung cancer and inencouraging people with a persistent cough tovisit their GP, provides an excellent example ofthe enhanced contribution that can be made.Social workers may also play an expanded rolein helping identify potential cancer symptomsamongst at risk groups, such as older people orthe disabled. We will therefore involveprofessionals such as pharmacists and socialworkers as we develop the NationalAwareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative.