Signs for Survival Initiative

What is Signs for Survival?
Level 1 - GP Leadership
Level 2 - Practice based education (Primary Care Visits)
Level 3 - Learning and Sharing

Signs for Survival (S4S): Earlier Diagnosis of Cancer in Primary Care

What is Signs for Survival?

The "Signs for Survival" (S4S) project brings together a range of initiatives that relate to the earlier diagnosis of cancer in Primary Care.

The project is organised into three levels. Each section is not mutually exclusive and General Practitioners (GPs) and practice staff are invited to get involved at any or all three levels.

Level 1 - GP Leadership

This section of the project aims to

increase the number of lead cancer GPs across the ASWCS Network
improve expertise in awareness and early diagnosis, building on existing knowledge with support for education and training of GPs in early diagnosis
ensure GP Commissioners have access to existing expertise on awareness and early diagnosis

In order to facilitate this we have a number of tools which were are encouraging people to get involved with;

an educational tool for GPs developed with the University of the West of England. This tool is based on several "virtual patient" scenarios, which can be interrogated. The teaching style of the training has been developed and ASWCS GPs have been involved in building patient scenarios based on "real" cases. We want to involve GPs in piloting and evaluating the tool during April 2012 after which it will be rolled out across the Network. - This GP authored on-line learning resource reflects a real life consultation and by completing them it will contribute to your CPD and revalidation. Working through each 10-15 minute exercise, the simulation will expose you to various Primary Care tools to assist in the diagnosis of cancer, provide access to external resources and increase your confidence in making Two week Wait referrals. For more information please view poster [pdf] 2MB.


In order to access the simulation, please go to: http://uchoose.uwe.ac.uk and register, following the online instructions. Once you have registered, you will be prompted to enter a code. The code for this project is: Gpsim1 This will give you access to three cases. Click on the green “play” arrow next to the case and the simulation will start. You can return to the home page at any time by clicking on the red tab marked Home, along the top of the player. If you are using Internet Explorer as your Web Browser, please ensure that it is version 7.0 or newer Help In the unlikely event that you require technical assistance in accessing the simulation, please e-mail: let.uchoose@uwe.ac.uk. If you can give a brief summary of the problem you are experiencing and a contact phone number, we will get in touch.

a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tool based on individual practice profiles which can support understanding of indicators relating to earlier diagnosis. Training for the use of this is available as well as the production of bespoke maps that can be cascaded to colleagues within the Clinical Commissioning Groups.
the ASWCS Lead GP to provide support with undertaking practice based cancer audit and significant event analysis.
the opportunity to become more involved with Macmillan.

Level 2 - Practice based education

This section of the project aims to enable individual practices, with facilitation, to reflect and analyse data from their practice (using GIS mapping of practice profiles) and explore where improvements in earlier diagnosis and two week wait referrals can be made. The outcomes sought will be an increased use by practice of a variety of tools available to support earlier diagnosis, raised awareness and involvement in up and coming National campaigns and improved links with cancer organisations such as Macmillan and ASWCS.

Information Pack

Section 1 - Introduction [pdf] 2MB

Section 2 - Prevention of Cancer [pdf] 2MB

Section 3 - Maps and Data Bristol [pdf] 3MB

Section 4 - Practice Profiles [pdf] 593KB

Section 5 - Tools for Earlier Diagnosis [pdf] 738KB

Section 6 - Audit and SEA [pdf] 2MB

Section 7 - Campaign Factsheets [pdf] 3MB

Section 8 - Useful Contacts [pdf] 321KB

Level 3 - Learning and Sharing

ASWCS held two educational events, one in the north (Bradford on Avon) and one in the south (Taunton) of the Network. The events were an opportunity for primary and secondary care clinicians to meet and discuss each others priorities in the area of earlier diagnosis of cancer and explore ways in which to improve communication, suggest improvements and remove blocks in the system. It took the form of a half day of invited speaker presentations and round table discussions. Further details can be found below;

Early diagnosis presentation [ppt] 462KB

How to improve survival in elderly women with breast cancer [ppt] 108KB

Bowel Cancer Awareness Campaign Presentation- Nader Francis

Sharing and learning events [pptx] 1009KB

Analysis of Actions from ASWCS Sharing and Learning Events 8th and 9th March 2012 [pdf] 260KB

South West skin cancer awareness campaign evaluation [pptx] 3MB