Bridging the Care Gap: Reflections on the Barnet Wellbeing Service’s Cancer Awareness Campaign
A guest blog from the Barnet Wellbeing Service
Earlier this year, the Barnet Wellbeing Service took a significant step forward in our Cancer Awareness Campaign by hosting a vital event aimed at “Closing the Care Gap.” The quarterly Hub Connections event gathered community members, healthcare professionals, and influential voices to focus on cancer awareness and address disparities in healthcare access.
The event featured several noteworthy speakers, including Councillor Zahra Beg, Hawa Abdi, and others, who shared insights on improving cancer care and enhancing local screening services. A particularly powerful part of the event was the in-depth dialogue about bridging the care gap in cancer services and ensuring more equitable healthcare.
During the event, we had the opportunity to interview Vanessa Nzekwu, Health Promotion Lead for the Bowel Cancer Screening Centre at University College London Hospitals. Vanessa shared her thoughts on the critical role of community involvement in improving access to cancer care.
She highlighted how community organisations can effectively help close the care gap:
“Organisations within the community are more approachable than bigger organisations, so they are able to connect with individuals on a face-to-face level. I think that’s an important thing for closing the gap.”
Her insights underscored a key takeaway: while larger organisations may offer substantial resources, community groups excel at building trust and personal connections. This is crucial for encouraging participation in cancer screening and prevention efforts, making cancer care more accessible.
Adding to the day’s impact was Stewart Block, a community member describing his journey to diagnosis, "My Prostate Cancer was discovered accidentally through a routine blood test. My GP was monitoring my cholesterol and noticed a significant increase in my PSA. When I received the cancer diagnosis it was suggested that I should start treatment sooner rather than later. Testing saved my life."
Stewart’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the difference early detection can make.
The Hub Connections event was a powerful example of the importance of community collaboration in cancer awareness campaigns. It highlighted how organisations like Barnet Wellbeing Service are essential to creating a more inclusive and responsive cancer care system.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our upcoming initiatives. In October, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will be hosting another event focused on raising awareness about breast cancer, promoting early detection, and encouraging regular screenings. This event is a continuation of our mission to close the care gap and empower our community with vital information about cancer prevention and care.
Keep an eye on the Barnet Wellbeing Service website and our social media channels for updates about our October event and other future efforts. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to working together to advance cancer awareness and improve community health.
Find out more about cancer screening
For more information on breast screening, please visit Breastscreening (london-breastscreening.org.uk)