'Cancer Bus' goes on tour in bid to tackle low cancer screening rates
An NHS ‘cancer bus’ has gone on tour in Birmingham and Solihull in a bid to tackle concerning lower than national average screening rates.
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board is urging people across the area to find out more about the importance of detecting cancer early as well as offering health checks and advice on other issues affecting people’s well-being.
The bus made its first stop in the car park of Tesco in Hodge Hill, Birmingham, on Friday (June 20) and will head out to different neighbourhoods each day until Wednesday (June 25).
As well as advice on different cancers and health checks, shoppers are able to get liver scans without needing an appointment while representatives from services such as gambling, drugs and alcohol support and smoking cessation.
Figures reveal screening rates in Birmingham and Solihull are increasing but remain below the national average in some cases. They show:
Cervical cancer screening rates for people with a cervix aged 25 – 49 have Increased between 2022/23 and 2023/24 in Birmingham and Solihull from 60.8 per cent to 77.47 per cent against a national target of 80 per cent.
Cervical cancer screening rates for people with a cervix aged 50 – 64 have increased from 72.2 per cent to 83.54 per cent against, and above, a national target of 80 per cent.
Breast cancer screening rates for women aged 53 – 70 have increased from 59.4 per cent to 62.33 per cent against a national target of 70 per cent.
Bowel cancer screening rates for people aged 60 – 74 have reduced from 64.8 per cent to 62.91 per cent although they remain above the national target of 60 per cent.
But the work of the cancer bus is starting to reap rewards with hundreds of people getting free health checks and advice.
Since its launch in September 2024, 850 health checks have been carried out on the bus and 1,300 health information bags have been given out to members of the public.
Kafilla Munir, Cancer Partnership Improvement Manager, said: “We’re trying to engage with the public, going to places that typically we don’t often get the opportunity to go into.
“We’re particularly keen to speak to those who are vulnerable and less likely to attend a screening programme.
“We are here trying to educate the public on the signs and symptoms of cancer and in addition to that, we are also talking about how people can maintain a healthy lifestyle and educating them on diet, exercise and things like that.
“People are more anxious since Covid so they often feel they don’t want to bother the NHS. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get the access they need and are often reluctant.
“Evidence highlights if we catch something early, the chances are we can treat it.
“In areas with high levels of deprivation, there are transient communities where they are less likely to know the signs and symptoms of cancer. And if they don’t know the signs they’re potentially at risk.”
She added: “It’s been an amazing reaction (from the public) and it has taken us all by surprise.
“As you can imagine, things like this are rare – seeing the NHS actually out in the community, outside supermarkets, in public spaces. Often you have to make an appointment and go to a specialist service.
“Most of the team here on the ground can speak community languages, we’re from diverse backgrounds and there is a huge willingness to have conversations.”
After starting in Birmingham and Solihull, the bus has been rolled out across the region including Stoke, Staffordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire and will head to the Black Country next.
People can find out where the bus will be by visiting the NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB website.
