Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Executive Director of People Services in respect of the current situation of cancer in Enfield.

RECEIVED the report of Stuart Lines (Director of Public Health).

NOTED

Dr Tha Han’s introduction of the report highlighted:

•  The supplementary agenda contained the updated version of the report.

•  The national screening programmes were commissioned by NHS England for breast, bowel and uterine cervix cancers, with cervical cancer screening provided by GPs. Screening programmes and detection at an early stage improved survival. Enfield’s performance for screening was the best in North Central London, but still below England averages.

•  Most cancers were treatable, and there were large numbers of people living with cancer as a long term condition in Enfield.

•  Cancer survival in England was behind many comparable European countries and the situation needed to be improved.

•  In Enfield, the CCG hosted the Enfield Cancer Action Group with the intention of improving the health of the population.

•  This comprehensive report set out the overall picture in relation to cancer in Enfield.

•  Those who lived in the most deprived areas of Enfield had disproportionately more cancer.

•  Residents needed to be aware of cancer symptoms, what they could do, and the risk factors. Campaigns were run with the Council’s communications team. There had also been a survey to find out the reasons that people refused screening, and where they got their health information from.

IN RESPONSE comments and questions were received, including:

1.    The Chair’s comments that it was important that the Board was able to put its concerns in relation to this report and the previous agenda item to NHS England and hoped that the representative would prioritise attendance at the next Board meeting.

2.    It was advised that testicular cancer did not meet the criteria for a national screening programme, but was linked to risk factors, and that self-checking and early referral were promoted.

3.    Early presentation with cancer symptoms to GPs was important, as was improvement to the 2 week wait referral rate.

4.    It was notable that the most popular channel of health information was face-to-face communication.

5.    A cancer awareness campaign would be launched in Enfield Market Square at 12:00 noon on 1 July 2019.

6.    The Chair requested that an action plan be presented to the next meeting.

ACTION:  Stuart Lines / Dr Tha Han

AGREED that Health and Wellbeing Board:

(1)  Noted the performance in early diagnosis of cancer, cancer screening and other cancer outcomes.

(2)  Supported the cancer awareness campaigns to improve cancer outcomes in Enfield, and to encourage the work to reduce inequalities in cancer morbidity and mortality.