Cancer screening for people with learning disabilities in Brent

Healthwatch Brent aimed to explore the understanding of cancer screening from local residents with learning disabilities. Using focus group methods, the team spoke with 28 service users in Brent about cancer, cancer screening, the difficulties they experienced with accessing services and what would make screening easier for them.

Only 11 respondents had been screened for bowel, breast or cervical cancer. Whilst the group had a good understanding and awareness of cancer and cancer screening, there was less clarity about how screening and self-checks are performed, which often led to respondents choosing not to attend or self-examine.  The respondents found easy read information and related medical letters (invitations, results letters) about cancer and screening were not readily available and they did not get reasonable adjustments before and during appointments.

There were 11 recommendations about producing relevant information in easy read format, making reasonable adjustments and how Healthwatch Brent should take forward the findings of the report.