The NHS in Greater Manchester is launching a new heartburn health check service in Greater Manchester to help save lives.
The three-month project will see people at higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer – also known as cancer of the foodpipe – invited for a heartburn health check by their GP.
The new heartburn health checks will be offered to eligible patients by invitation only on a mobile clinic.
Eligible patients will then visit a mobile clinic which will be parked up at different community locations.
Dr James Britton, Early Diagnosis Clinical Lead for Oesophageal Cancer at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said: “This is an exciting project which we think will make a long-term difference to people’s lives. We know if we find oesophageal cancer at an early or pre-cancerous stage patients can have fantastic outcomes with less invasive treatment. This is much better than waiting for a patient to come to their GP with severe symptoms and more advanced cancer.
“Ultimately, we hope this project can save lives through earlier detection. We will be collecting evidence to see if this service can be expanded further and reach more people in the future.”
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance will run a new mobile clinic in a van to deliver more than 450 heartburn health checks during a three-month period.
People in the Greater Manchester area aged 55 to 65 with a history of chronic acid reflux and other risk factors will be sent an invitation via post or text message from their GP. They will be asked to fill in a questionnaire to see if they would benefit from a heartburn health check.
Eligible patients will be invited to the van where they will have a pill on a string test performed by a nurse. The test involves swallowing a small pill with a string attached. Once the pill enters the stomach it turns into a small sponge which collects cells from the food pipe as it is removed. The test can detect a lining change to the food pipe called Barrett’s oesophagus, which if left unmonitored can increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
The van is part of a number of “This Van Can” projects being run by the NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance which see mobile vans visiting local communities to help improve early cancer diagnosis and raise awareness about symptoms.
The heartburn health check will be a testing service only, but some of the symptoms of oesophageal cancer will be clearly visible on the side of the van, as well as signposting to what people can do if they are worried.
The mobile clinic, launched in collaboration with InPhase Health, will visit all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. The Heartburn Health Check is delivered through EndoSign®, a pill on a string test developed by Cyted Health.
Patients will be identified via their GP records and offered on a first come, first served basis. There is not an option to self-refer.
Andrew Cross, a Director at InPhase, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance to offer this new service to the people with highest need in Greater Manchester. Our friendly staff are looking forward to welcoming patients.
“This is an innovative way to get these tests out to people and hopefully identify anyone who might be at risk of developing oesophageal cancer at an early stage to help save lives.”
The checks will be based at a mixture of football grounds and supermarkets in local areas close to where people live.
Bill Smith, a patient from Greater Manchester who has had a diagnosis of Barrett’s Oesophagus, has worked with doctors and nurses to develop the service and thinks it will be a great success.
Bill said. “I’ve had this test and I’d describe it as slightly uncomfortable for a few seconds but better than doing a Covid self-test and much better than having an endoscopy.
“If it can help other people find out that they have Barrett’s Oesophagus, a condition that may become cancer, then it must be a good thing.
“Since my Barrett’s diagnosis I’ve made small changes to my eating habits, but the peace of mind that the routine monitoring gives me and my family is the most important factor for us.”
For more information about the heartburn health checks visit: www.thisvancan.co.uk
