Archives: Research

Cancer places a huge burden on the healthcare system. It is amongst the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. Screening of the more susceptible population is the most effective method of detecting cancer early and subsequently achieving more positive treatment outcomes. However, large variations in screening uptake rates have been identified as a central factor contributing to avoidable cancer deaths. Lower screening uptake rates have been previously associated with a number of factors but are most significantly identified in individuals with lower socio-economic status, those from ethnic minorities, and those without access to car.

As people get older they suffer from many health conditions, this may be because of increasing propensity towards disease and/or a natural deterioration in parts or systems of the body. Some of these are evident and receive widespread public and academic attention (such as heart disease or dementia), others such as deafness do not, despite the potential to be a devastating chronic condition.

Just over 200,000 (~14%) of the people enumerated in the 2011 Census answered ‘yes’ to the question … In the past year, have you helped with or carried out any voluntary work without pay?