Cancer awareness bus tour to encourage screening

A bus whose passengers include a team of healthcare experts is travelling to towns and cities to raise awareness of cancer screening.

Coventry and Warwickshire residents are invited to speak to the GPs, consultants, and representatives from lung and bowel screening teams, to find out what cancer services and support are available to them.

Dr Hazel Blanchard, a Coventry GP, said she hoped the service would help to reduce fear of cancer screening.

"Sometimes people are worried about going to the GP surgery, or they aren't sure what screenings they're entitled to, so the idea is that the information is coming to near to them."

The tour began on Tuesday with the bus opening its doors to people in Coventry city centre.

The service, organised by NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), aimed to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and promote early diagnosis, Dr Blanchard said.

A spokesperson for the ICB added that the team onboard the bus would be encouraging residents to "check it, don't chance it" and would also provide advice on healthy living and prevention.

Dr Blanchard said she hoped thousands of people would reach out and make use of the service.

"We know that screening essentially saves lives and cancers that are picked up earlier are more treatable and ultimately more curable."

The mobile unit will travel around until September, visiting various locations in Coventry, North Warwickshire, South Warwickshire and Rugby.

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.