Turning hairdressers into community champions in a bid to help cut cancer

Hairdressers and beauticians are being recruited by NHS North Lincolnshire to help people beat cancer.

Inspired by October being breast cancer awareness month, NHS North Lincolnshire will be running a short course to teach hairdressers about the signs and symptoms of cancer.

The hairdressers will then become community champions and find out more about the two most common forms of the disease in the UK – breast and cervical cancer.

And they will use that information when talking to customers to help spread the word.

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A spokeswoman for NHS North Lincolnshire said: "Hairdressers were targeted in particular owing to the special relationships which they often establish with clients and the willingness many people have to open up to their hairdresser in a way they wouldn't otherwise to friends or family."

The course teaches participants the signs and symptoms of breast and cervical cancer so they can advise people on where to seek help if their clients described similar problems.

NHS North Lincolnshire health improvement practitioner Moira Gove said: "Early diagnosis of cancer can greatly improve a person's chances of survival.

"This means being able to spot signs and symptoms and most importantly act once you recognise those symptoms.

"The cancer awareness events we have held to date have been really successful and so we want to build on this by creating more community champions who deal with the public day in, day out, often on personal matters and who can signpost people on if they describe health symptoms which could be early warning signs of cancer.

"We need to look at different, more effective ways of reaching people in good time.

"It's encouraging to see so many local businesses investing their time and effort in this programme and helping local people to stay alert to the signs and symptoms of cancer.

"We would like others to follow suit and help us beat cancer together as a community."

The event will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 7.15pm until 9pm at the Forest Pines Hotel and Conference Centre in Broughton.

It is aimed at those who deal with members of the public on a regular basis, such as hairdressers and beauty therapists.

For details, call 01652 251204.