On 22nd September 2015 we held a ‘Lumps & Bumps’ Event. We decided to run this following the disappointing data that showed the uptake of cancer screening in our area for people with learning disabilities was below 30% for each of the main cancer screens. We aimed to raise awareness and understanding of screening and look at what barriers face people with a learning disability.The event was held at Bulkington Village Centre, was attended by over 80 people with learning disabilities and their family/carers and was funded by Warwickshire North Clinical Commissioning Group and Public Health Warwickshire. The event was co-hosted by a gentleman with learning disabilities who sits on the learning disability partnership board.
We held an interactive cancer screening quiz as an ice breaker then had a presentation from a breast care nurse and a lady with learning disabilities who has had breast cancer was supported to tell her story to encourage others to attend their screening. This also highlighted how the learning disability teams can support people through this journey and work together with primary care for positive outcomes.
We ran workshops on cervical, bowel, breast, testicular and prostate screening and provided information packs with easy read information. Mini health checks were offered throughout the day and we had several information stands around general health and numerous games. Our links with local breast care nurses meant that we could also offer 1:1 sessions with a breast care nurse for those with more personal questions or for people who struggle to learn within a group environment.
A big contribution to the event’s success was the Inflatable, educational ‘walk through’ Colon which was hired from Inflatable Body Organs. This enabled an interactive and fun learning environment to deliver the message of the risks, signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and other diseases in a fun and stimulating environment.
We received some really positive feedback from attendees and were asked for more events in the future. We were told by some attendees that they felt more comfortable and confident to attend their screens now that they understood exactly what was going to happen and had the appropriate accessible information to inform them.
As part of our follow up work we will be running a 12 week ‘Top to Toe Health’ group for people with learning disabilities, which will include support around healthy lifestyles and access to hospital, GP services and screening.
We are also linking in with the breast care leads in the area to run a mammogram workshop/group that will take place at a local hospital for a small number of ladies with a learning disability. We hope to have a breast screening champion with a learning disability to act as peer support and help encourage other ladies to attend their mammograms.
For details contact: Claire Geary. Community Learning Disability Team: 07795 046 263.
For more information on Inflatable Body Organs: please contact: Angela Dean on 01722 333587 www.iborgans.com