TY - JOUR T1 - Can early cancer detection be improved in deprived areas by involving community pharmacists? JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 153 LP - 154 DO - 10.3399/bjgp22X718865 VL - 72 IS - 717 AU - Judit Konya AU - Richard D Neal AU - Chris Clark AU - David Bearman AU - John Campbell Y1 - 2022/04/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/72/717/153.abstract N2 - The key to the success of cancer treatments and better clinical outcomes is early detection. The incidence and mortality from cancer is higher in patients with lower socioeconomic status compared to that for more affluent patients.1General practice is crucial for the early diagnosis of cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pre-existing GP workforce and access inequalities, which are expected to get worse.2 The 2020 General Practice Patient Survey suggests that patients from deprived areas have more difficulties accessing general practice than patients from affluent areas.3 Secondary care treatment waiting times have also become longer compared to pre-pandemic levels, and have increased significantly in deprived populations.4Community pharmacies are increasingly often providing consultations and advice to patients. The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service was designed to relieve pressure on general practice, with patients being referred by the triaging GP surgery staff to community pharmacies for same-day consultation relating to minor illnesses.5The positive pharmacy care law states that in deprived areas more people can access a community pharmacy within 20 minutes’ walk than in affluent areas.6 This raises the possibility that pharmacies could play a role in addressing inequalities in primary care access. Community pharmacies are contractually required to deliver up to six public health campaigns each financial year. Becoming a Healthy Living Pharmacy has been an essential service requirement since 2020/2021, which ensures that community pharmacies are consistently providing health promotion, targeting the health and wellbeing needs of their local communities, and assisting to reduce health inequalities. Both of these requirements provide opportunities to … ER -