Cancer Prevention
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most popular drug in the UK, and the leading cause of illness and mortality for those of working age. About 4,800 cancer deaths could be attributed to alcohol each year. Around 24% of people in the UK drink at increased risk levels and it is deeply embedded into the UK’s history and culture. This can mean that risk and harm are tolerated and overlooked.
Watch the video below to hear from Dr Richard Roope (Wessex Cancer Alliance Primary Care Lead) to find out more about what you can do in primary care to support your patients drinking at increased risk levels.
This video is part of this year’s Prevention & Early Diagnosis Local Improvement Scheme. To support your PCN to achieve one of its requirements please watch the video and complete this short survey
IBA is a practice used to help identify an individual’s alcohol consumption risk level and then provide brief advice to those in the medium to high-risk categories.
Once the risk level is identified using a screening tool, a practitioner can understand when to engage in brief advice or refer someone to a specialist service.
You can assess a person’s risk by completing a short screening tool called AUDIT-C. If the patient has a score of 5 or more and time permits, you can complete the remaining alcohol harm questions to obtain a full AUDIT score.
ASK: Be aware of opportunities for change and raise the issue.
EXPLORE: Use open discovery questions and a non-judgemental attitude. Try to avoid telling people what to do. Use AUDIT C to support identification of risk alongside supporting information to help structure your conversation.
ACT: On the persons response, discuss helpful tips for cutting down OR refer/signpost to local services.
This handy crib sheet has been developed by Hampshire County Council to help support you in having these conversations.
HPV Vaccination
The HPV vaccination helps to prevent cancer by protecting against HPV, the virus that causes almost all cases of cervical cancer and some other cancers.
The vaccine has been shown to reduce cervical cancer rates by almost 90%
It is first offered to all children between the ages of 11-13 (years 8 and 9) in the UK. It will also be offered to older children if not taken up earlier.
Information for patients
Please direct patients to our dedicated HPV Vaccine webpage on Cancer Matters Wessex for information about the HPV Vaccine and links to our School Aged Immunisation teams.
There is also a leaflet co-produced with Gypsies and Travellers on what the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination is, how to access it and why it’s important.
Other Resources
In addition to our HPV toolkit for primary care, NHS England South East have compiled a number of HPV related assets and resources for health professionals. Click here for resources to support improvements in vaccination uptake.
HPV Vaccination in Gypsy and Traveller Communities: Guidance for Professionals: A briefing drawing on community-led insights into the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, which sets out practical actions for health professionals, schools, and local authority services to improve access, understanding, and trust.
Read our HPV toolkit for Primary Care here and access resources and videos to use to help improve uptake in your area.
HPV Catch-up Campaign 2025-26
You will be aware that practices are required to participate in a national vaccination and immunisation campaign each year, as a requirement of the GP contracts. This year, the agreed campaign is a catch-up campaign for HPV vaccination.
Letter to Primary Care from Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccinations, NHS England
Resources
A toolkit has been shared to help Primary care promote the catch up campaign with their patients. This includes digital and social media graphics as well as template letters and text messages that you can use to support this campaign. We have provided some of the assets here to make them easier to access:
- Template letter
- Social media graphic
Suggested social media copy:
The HPV virus can lead to some cancers, including cervical, head and neck. If you missed your vaccination you can catch up at your GP practice until your 25th birthday. Find out more www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/ - Suggested text message (for patients 16 years old and over)
Our records show you may not have had your free NHS human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. One dose helps protect against a range of cancers. Contact us to book your appointment or confirm if you’ve already had it. [INSERT CONTACT NUMBER]. More information: cancermatterswessex.nhs.uk/hpv-vaccine
Smoking
Smoking is the single most avoidable risk factor for cancer.
Further information
- Cancer Research UK e-cigarette hub – Information for health professionals including evidence, patient information and FAQs
- South East England position statement on e-cigarettes 2021 – Summary of the latest evidence and best practice guidance
Training and education
- 30 seconds to save a life – Very Brief Advice (VBA) training for smoking cessation. VBA is an evidenced based form of simple advice designed to be used opportunistically in less than 30 seconds.
- Behaviour change and cancer prevention – 30-minute RCGP module for healthcare professionals who would like to promote behaviour change around smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption.
- VBA for smoking cessation podcast – This short (15 minutes) and downloadable podcast for healthcare professionals highlights the importance of smoking cessation for patients and how to use ‘Very Brief Advice’ (VBA) in a consultation.
Obesity
Keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer and yet many people are not aware of the link.
Further information
- Obesity and cancer – The latest research on obesity and cancer
- Let’s talk about weight – Tips and practical advice on how to discuss weight loss with patients.
- Moving Medicine – Evidence, tools and training to help you integrate physical activity conversations into routine care
Training and education
- The health benefits of physical activity: cancer – 30-minute BMJ Learning online course on the effectiveness of physical activity as a preventer of cancer and an essential part of its treatment.
- Understanding physical activity and cancer – Macmillan e-learning course to help you raise awareness of the importance of physical activity.
- Moving Healthcare Professionals – Physical activity champion training for practices and support resources to promote physical activity
- Dorset – Active Dorset offers free training to healthcare professionals to support people to move more.
- Hampshire – Physical activity clinical champions training – Free sessions on integrating physical activity advice into everyday clinical practice provided by Energise Me.
Information for patients
- Keeping Well page on Cancer Matters Wessex
- Information on the causes of cancer and reducing risk
- NHS Better Health – Free tools and support to help people lose weight, get active or stop smoking. Includes links to a range of apps including Quit Smoking, Couch to 5k and Drink Free Days plus a search function for local support services.
- Our Dorset Video Library have a range of case study videos to inspire people to get moving.
Useful resources
The following Cancer Research UK resources can be displayed in GP surgeries.
Staff Health and Wellbeing
Your health and wellbeing is important too – here are some additional resources you might find useful:
- NHS England – Supporting our NHS people – Details of the support available from the National Health and Wellbeing Programme including the Digital Weight Management Programme
- NHS Professionals Health and Wellbeing Hub – Resources, ideas, and guidance to help you manage your mental and physical health and wellbeing including information on how to access your free Whealthy Plan
- Here For Each Other by Our Dorset – Information and guidance on health and wellbeing including tips to eat well and free fitness videos and apps, as well as access to bespoke 1:1 support, for NHS and care sector workers in Dorset
- LiveWell Dorset – Information and guidance on weight management, becoming more physically active, stopping smoking and drinking less, and access to free health coaching, for residents in Dorset.
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight – People Portal – Information and guidance on healthy lifestyles and access to confidential health and wellbeing support for people working in the NHS and Primary Care services across Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Physical Activity
- Tips and practical advice on how to be more active at work – Active Dorset and Energise Me – Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- Health Service Discounts and Blue Light Card – Exclusive discounts for NHS and Healthcare workers including gym memberships
Initiatives that practices can sign up to encourage staff to increase their physical activity:
