Ashley Fox, Member of Parliament for Bridgwater, recently met with Jess Barton and Rosie Edgerley from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to learn more about a pioneering initiative aimed at improving early cancer detection in Somerset.
During the meeting, the team shared details of their work to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer, with a particular focus on encouraging earlier diagnosis. In Bridgwater, residents are now able to self-refer for checks related to Womb Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer – without needing to go through a GP first.
Speaking after the meeting, Ashley Fox said, “This is potentially life-saving work being led right here in Somerset. The earlier cancer is caught, the better the outcomes and this initiative gives people direct access to important checks. I’m grateful to Jess and Rosie for taking the time to brief me, and I’ll be doing all I can to help spread the word.”
Jess said “The services are still in their early stages, having initially launched with a focus on womb cancer in 2023. Since then, over 33 cancers have been diagnosed. We have since expanded into colorectal, lung, and breast cancer pathways, with significant outcomes for patients. This expansion has enabled earlier diagnoses, which are expected to dramatically improve long-term patient outcomes.”
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first in the country to roll out this kind of targeted awareness and access programme, aiming to reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses and improve survival rates across the county.
For more information about symptoms and how to self-refer, residents can visit Somerset self-referral - Cancer services - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
