Screening

NHS Population Screening Programmes 

 The 3 NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.  For more detailed information on each of the three cancer screening programmes, please go to the relevant section below i.e. cervical, bowel or breast

Within this topic, links are also provided on guidance and resources to identify and reduce inequalities in NHS Population Screening Programmes, Behavioural Science, Screening data 

The diagram shows the  7 different types of screening offered by the NHS and who is eligible to be screened.  You can access either a standard version or an editable version here.

To access your place (Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster) specific screening booklet please click here.

What is Cancer Screening?

here you will find useful information about what cancer screening is, the possible benefits and risks. 

There is more information on the Cancer Research UK website about Cancer Screening Programmes here and for information about Cancer Myths click here. 

You can also read about why early cancer diagnosis is important by clicking here. 

NHS population screening: Identifying and reducing inequalities (GOV.UK) – This page provides a wealth of guidance and resources about identifying and reducing inequalities in NHS population screening. To access the page Click Here.  It also has links to other useful guidance and resources for specific population groups i.e. learning disabilities (Click here) and a powerful video of people with learning disabilities talking about screening, trans and non-binary people (including information which can be printed out for patients, click here). There is support for carers (including a support for carers document which includes information on reasonable adjustments, making a best interests decision, shared learning examples, as well as easy-read guides explaining all the screening tests etc. and a document which includes risk factors, signs and symptoms, and more information to access click here). The website also provides support and guidance around the use of text reminders, supporting people with a learning disability, improving access for people with severe mental illness, information for trans and non-binary and much more Click Here.

 Please also see the presentations from Public Health England Inequalities conference (Feb 2021) by clicking here. 

Public Health England Screening Tackling Screening Inequalities in BAME Communities Click here

Reducing inequalities in cancer screening (CRUK) – this guide offers some practical tips to help address inequalities and provides signposts to further resources and information Click here. CRUK also have an article about breaking down health inequalities barriers, to read click here. 

Quality Improvement 

You may wish to follow the step-by-step quality improvement pathway below when looking to address inequalities in screening and improve your PCNs screening uptake. 

Behavioural Science 

Across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, there is an imbalance when it comes to cancer screening attendance. The Alliance embarked on commissioning an expert team from CAJA to apply a Behavioural Science approach to encourage those in areas of low attendance to access cancer screening services.

Behavioural Science is based on the study of “human habits, actions and intentions” spanning the fields of psychology, HR, economics and organisational behaviour.  It recognises that traditional approaches such as simply educating or informing people do not work as well as we previously thought and incorporates a much wider set of factors – for example:

1. Who communicates information – Doctors and Nurses who have authority, and mean information gain more trust and respect (MESSENGER)
2. How people are influenced by what others do (NORMS)
3. The incentives of what will be gained and more importantly what could be lost (INCENTIVES)
4. How relevant or novel the information is (SALIENCE)
5. How the information makes people feel about themselves (EGO)

By applying Behavioural Science techniques, you can help to encourage patients in areas of low attendance to access cancer screening services. 

For examples of the nudge promotional materials that have been developed, you can find them here or here 

South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance Business Intelligence dashboard Click here 

Fingertips Public Health Data - Office for Health Improvement & Disparities Click here 

NHS Digital/ Public Heath England Cervical Screening Dashboard- Click here  Allows GP Practices to see interactive data on the number of women in each practice who are non-attenders for cervical screening (smear tests) but remain eligible for screening in the practice. 

CRUK Cancer Statistics for the UK Click here 

CancerData Click here