03 February 2011
Health Minister visits University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trust
Health Minister Paul Burstow today (Thursday 3 February) visited
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to talk to staff
and patients about a new Government health campaign.
Be Clear on Cancer is the first ever Government cancer awareness
campaign to highlight the early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
It is being piloted in the South West and East of England and, if
successful, will be rolled out across the country.
Improving cancer outcomes is a Government priority and the
earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the outlook.
Featuring real GPs encouraging patients to talk to them about
changes in their poo, the new adverts aim to make people aware of
the early signs of bowel cancer and make it easier for them to
discuss this with their GP.
Adverts on TV, radio and in newspapers launched in the South
West and East of England on Monday and will run for seven
weeks.
More than 90 per cent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer at
the early stage survive for at least five years compared with only
6.6 per cent of those diagnosed at the late stage. Ten
thousand lives could be saved each year if England matched the best
survival cancer rates in Europe.
Health Minister Paul Burstow, said:
It has been good to meet clinicians and patients at University
Hospitals Bristol and see the fantastic work already being done
here to diagnose and treat bowel cancer. Im pleased to see the
enthusiasm there is for this campaign among the staff who know how
important early diagnosis of bowel cancer is.
Early diagnosis makes a huge difference to cancer survival rates
and bowel cancer is one of the biggest killers. Thats why the
Be Clear on Cancer campaign uses simple messages to make people
aware of the early signs of bowel cancer and to give them the
confidence to talk to their GP about them.
Mr Paul Sylvester, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Director of
the Bristol and Weston Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, said:
University Hospitals Bristol has led the Bristol Bowel Cancer
Screening Programme since December 2008 and has established links
with local GPs with an interest in Gastroenterology and
Endoscopy. This new campaign will complement this work and
make a real impact on the survival rates of this common
disease.
As well as the pilots for a national campaign, £9 million has
been made available to fund 59 local cancer awareness campaigns led
by the NHS and supported by Cancer Research UK. These will
target the three biggest killers: bowel, lung and breast
cancer. The Government is already providing cutting-edge
cancer therapies through its commitment to invest £50 million in
additional cancer drugs until the end of March, and, from April
£200 million per year for a Cancer Drugs Fund until the end of
2013.
- Ends "
