Providing a community-based cancer risk assessment service for a socially and ethnically diverse population

Patients from ethnic minorities are under-represented in referrals to cancer genetics services. In a regional genetics centre that serves two London boroughs, the existing service attracts 3% of its referrals from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and other ethnic groups, despite the fact that these groups make up 34% of the population.

To improve access to familial cancer risk assessment in a socially and ethnically diverse population.

The London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

Community-based, nurse-led clinics were established for people who were concerned about their familial cancer risk. Patients were asked to triage themselves by answering three questions. Self-referral was encouraged.

Data were gathered on ethnicity of clients, cancer risk, source of referral and patient and health professional satisfaction with the service.

Of the 415 people who have accessed the service, 46% were from not White British groups and 67% referred themselves to the service, demonstrating the success of this model in reaching 'hard to reach' groups. Thirty-seven percent of patients were assessed as being at population risk and 63% were assessed as being at moderate risk or higher, showing that the clinics were meeting an unmet need in the community.