January 2015
TO: ALL COMMUNITY PHARMACY
CONTRACTORS IN BEDFORDSHIRE,
HERTFORDSHIRE, LUTON, MILTON
KEYNES and NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Midlands & East (Central Midlands)
Charter House
Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Email: england.pharmacy-athsm@nhs.net
Direct line: 01138248830
Dear Colleague,
Health Promotion Campaign February 2016 – Be Clear on Cancer, “Blood in Pee”
A national campaign to promote awareness and early diagnosis
of bladder and kidney cancer
As you know participation in Health Promotion Campaigns is an important part of the Terms
of Service for Community Pharmacy Contractors.
This health promotion campaign focuses on the national “Be Clear on Cancer” campaign to
promote awareness and early diagnosis of bladder and kidney cancer. The campaign’s key
message will be 'If you notice blood in your pee, even if it’s ‘just the once’, tell your
doctor.' The advertising will explain that finding cancer early makes it more treatable.
The national campaign is running from 15th February until early April 2016 although
Community Pharmacists are asked to participate in February. You may wish to update
yourself and your staff with appropriate guidance available for healthcare professionals.
Useful links are:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/early-diagnosis-activities/be-clear-oncancer/blood-in-pee-campaign
http://www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/bladder-and-kidney-cancer/home
Who is the campaign aimed at?
Men and women from lower socioeconomic groups over the age of 50, and the people who
influence them, such as friends and family.
Since pharmacies are often the first port of call for those suffering with urinary symptoms,
you have an opportunity to be vigilant for people who may be showing symptoms of bladder
or kidney cancer. Many people find it easier to discuss their worries in an informal
pharmacy setting. GPs will be following NICE guidelines, which recommend a referral if:
 Haematuria is painless
 The patient is over 40 and has recurrent or persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
associated with blood in the urine
 The patient has blood in urine with no identifiable infection.
Key facts about bladder and kidney cancer

If kidney and bladder cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage, one-year survival
is as high as 91-96%. At late stage, it drops to just 33-42%

It has been estimated that around 1,000 deaths from bladder and kidney cancer
could be avoided each year if survival rates matched the best in Europe.
Materials
The following materials are available from the DH orderline - for hard copy orders or to
download from the link:
https://www.orderline.dh.gov.uk/ecom_dh/public/saleproducts.jsf
You must be registered and logged in. (Or you can phone 0300 123 1002)


Be Clear on Cancer - blood in pee A4 poster. Product Code 2900583
Be Clear on Cancer - blood in pee A5 leaflet. Product Code 2902586
Posters should be prominently displayed in all pharmacies or displayed on pharmacy
websites for distance selling pharmacies and the patient resources are provided to
support your health promotional message and interventions.
More resources will be available from the Cancer Research UK website shortly:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/early-diagnosis-activities/be-clear-oncancer/blood-in-pee-campaign
Please keep checking this website for the latest material.
Monitoring and outcomes
It is important that you complete your data collection forms with the number of interventions
provided to the public. Completed data collection forms for each of the campaigns for 201617 should be retained at the pharmacy and a copy of the summary form should be
gradually completed for each of this year’s campaigns and submitted as one sheet at the
end of the year to NHS England (Central Midlands) local team by emailing:
england.pharmacy-athsm@nhs.net following completion of all the campaigns during 201617. One summary form should be submitted by each contractor by the end of March 2017.
Without submission of the summary form there is no confirmation that a pharmacy has
participated in the public health campaigns which form part of the essential services.
Furthermore, the information you provide enables us to evaluate the success of the
campaigns we run. Pharmacies are advised to also retain their own copies as evidence for
contractual monitoring.
Please do not hesitate to contact one of the Central Midlands Area Team using the email
above if you have any further questions relating to this campaign.
Thank you for your support and full and enthusiastic participation in this important and
mandatory element of the pharmacy contract.
Yours sincerely
Pauline Walton
Pharmaceutical Adviser to NHS England Area Team
Jane Bray
Support Contract Manager