Learning Disabilities services promote Lumps and Bumps events
Due to the low uptake of health screening programmes and in particular cancer screening, by those people with a learning disability, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust has launched its Lumps and Bumps awareness campaign.
Learning Disabilities Community Nursing and Allied Health Professionals teams from Warwickshire organised an awareness road show on 22 September at the Bulkington Village Centre for People with learning disabilities and their carers to attend. The event was funded by North Warwickshire CCG and Public Health Warwickshire.
The uptake for these types of national screening programmes for people with learning disabilities is well under the national average and in particular, only 30% take up cancer screening checks.
The event was opened by Tracey Wrench, Director of Nursing and Quality at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, who commented; “What a great environment our staff and partners have helped create, to promote the importance of screening, in such a positive manner for our patients and their carers”.
With over 80 patients and their carers attending on the day, the road show’s aim was to promote awareness and the importance of regular screening. The event was co- hosted by Liam Abraham from the Learning Disability Partnership Board, who ran one of the quizzes on the day. The rest of the event consisted of a series of patient talks, workshops and other fun activities, including a giant walk through interactive colon, all of which helped create the right environment for patients and carers to have a better understanding of what to look for.
People attending the event made several comments, one patient said; “It has been really helpful and fun as well. I’ve learned a lot. Workshops very informative, thanks for an amazing day.”
Claire Geary, Acute Liaison/Health Facilitation Nurse at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said; “Today’s event has been extremely worthwhile.
“I can’t stress enough the importance in having regular screening and self-examination checks. I would like to reinforce Jackie’s emotional speech about her breast cancer journey which reminded everyone to attend their screening appointments. These types of interactive events help people with learning disabilities and their carers to understand fully the importance of regular screening and to seek appropriate health advice if they need any specialist support or accessible information in preparation for these appointments.
“Important events such as these provide our team with an ideal opportunity to take our services to specific groups of people within the community.”