NHS England’s Professor Peter Johnson on proactive cancer case finding, screening programmes, and tackling fear of cancer diagnosis among patients

In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer, at NHS England, talks to MIMS Learning deputy editor, Rhiannon Ashman about the state of play of cancer diagnosis in England. 

He gives an update on the NHS Long Term Plan, discusses proactive case finding, the success of the lung cancer screening programme, and pilots being launched in primary care to pick up specific cancers earlier. 

Earlier cancer diagnosis is a national priority, and MIMS Learning’s ‘Patient, Presentation, Pathway for Cancer’ campaign aims to help GPs to have a positive influence where they can, during consultations and within referral processes, to ensure the best outcomes for patients. To find more free CPD on this topic, click here.

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to:

• Describe the roll out and success of the lung cancer screening programme
• Explain the role of primary care in proactive cancer case finding 
• Recall how referral numbers and patterns have changed over the last 15 years
• Understand the barriers that may prevent people with suspected cancer presenting to their GP
• Discuss pilots being trialed in primary care to improve early cancer diagnosis, access to investigations, and safety netting

You can access the website version of this podcast on MIMS Learning to make notes for your appraisal. MIMS Learning offers hundreds of hours of CPD for healthcare professionals, along with a handy CPD organiser.

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

Resources from MIMS Learning

Guidance update: latest NICE guidelines on recognition and referral of suspected cancer. 

Colorectal cancer: clinical review

Cervical cancer: clinical review

Other resources

Cancer Research UK. Cancer risk statistics. Accessed 18 December 2024.

Cancer Research UK. Early cancer diagnosis data hub. Accessed 18 December 2024.  

MIMS Learning

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