14 November 2016
RCGP Launches New Brain Tumours in Children Toolkit
A new resource to support GPs, their teams, and parents to spot signs of brain tumours in children and young people has been launched today by the Royal College of GPs, in partnership with the University of Nottingham’s HeadSmart campaign.
The toolkit has been developed as part of the College’s clinical spotlight project on Brain Tumours in Children, which began in June, recognising that brain tumours account for a quarter of all UK childhood cancers, and are currently the commonest cause of cancer death in children.
It has been designed to help GPs and other primary care professionals to spot signs of brain tumours in children as early as possible by highlighting ‘red flag’ symptoms to look out for, and providing up-to-date guidance and training resources all in one place.
The toolkit also provides information for patients and parents, as well as signposting them to organisations that will support those who have been recently diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Dr Rebecca Chellaswamy, RCGP Clinical Lead for brain tumours in children, who developed the toolkit, said: “Symptoms of brain tumours are often non-specific and difficult to spot – but avoiding delays in diagnosis is crucial in order to prevent worse neurological outcomes for patients who survive brain tumours.
“It is particularly challenging in general practice to establish whether a child needs a brain scan to exclude or diagnose a brain tumour within the constraints of the standard 10 minute consultation.
“We hope that this toolkit provides the much needed support for GPs and our teams, and our patients – particularly parents of young children - to highlight what to look out for, and raise awareness of current guidelines, in this relatively rare but important area, which will ultimately improve outcomes for our patients.”
Further Information
Access the new Brain Tumours in Children toolkit, here.
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7574/7575/7633
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 50,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.