As Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is marked this month, Brent Health Matters is reflecting on the progress it has made in increasing screening rates, particularly among underrepresented communities
Nine out of ten people diagnosed with bowel cancer at its earliest stage survive, making early detection crucial. As Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is marked in April, Brent Health Matters is reflecting on the progress it has made in increasing screening rates, particularly among underrepresented communities.
Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, highlighted the borough’s challenges and the efforts being made to address them. “Brent is a diverse borough, but many areas experience real deprivation, which we know impacts health outcomes. Our innovative health inequalities programme, Brent Health Matters, organises regular community events to stress the importance of bowel cancer screenings. We ensure our outreach is inclusive by offering sessions in various languages to connect with all groups.”
Statistics have shown a disparity in screening uptake among different ethnic groups. While over 70% of white British residents (71.2%) eligible for screening have completed their test, the numbers are significantly lower among Pakistani (51.3%), Bangladeshi (52.4%), and black communities (53.1%). The programme also identified that individuals with learning disabilities, mental health issues, and dementia were less likely to take part in screening.
“Importantly, what the work did was begin to turn the dial on the numbers of people in our most deprived areas getting tested for bowel cancer”
-Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health
In response, Brent Health Matters launched an initiative in 2024, focusing on residents in the borough’s most deprived areas. Working with nine GP practices where screening uptake was lowest, the team identified individuals who had not returned their FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) kits—a crucial tool in early bowel cancer detection. More than 2,000 residents received phone calls encouraging them to take the test and addressing any concerns they had. Despite challenges, including outdated contact information, language barriers, and reluctance to participate, the campaign successfully persuaded 1,392 residents to request test kits. Of those, 448 returned completed tests, with 446 results coming back normal. However, two tests showed abnormal results, with one classified as high risk, underscoring the importance of screening.
“Crucially, this initiative has helped turn the dial on screening rates in Brent’s most deprived areas,” said Cllr Nerva. “In the past year, take-up rates have improved by just 0.3% in our least deprived areas, whereas in the communities we targeted, the increase has been over 2%. While this may seem incremental, it represents real progress in protecting residents from bowel cancer.”
By adopting a proactive, community-focused approach, Brent Health Matters is not only improving early detection rates but also fostering a culture of routine screening. The initiative is a testament to the power of targeted public health interventions in addressing inequalities and improving health outcomes for all.
