Famous faces, including TV chefs Gordon Ramsay, Nadiya Hussain, and actress Emma Thompson are backing a major new campaign urging anyone concerned about cancer to get checked and to keep routine appointments, as new research found that even now, nearly half (48%) of the public would delay or not seek medical help at all[i].

A fifth (22%) would not want to be a burden on the health service while a similar number said that fear of getting coronavirus or passing it onto others was a major reason for not getting helpⁱ.

More than four in ten people would leave it longer to get health advice than they normally would have before the coronavirus outbreakⁱ, however delaying can have serious consequences for some cancers.

NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to keep cancer services going throughout the pandemic, with almost one million people referred for checks or starting treatment since the virus took hold.

The NHS’s Help Us Help You access campaign will use TV adverts, billboards and social media to urge people to speak to their GP if they are worried about a symptom that could be cancer, and also remind pregnant women to attend check-ups and seek advice if they are worried about their baby.

People with mental health issues are also been encouraged to access NHS support.

England’s top GP says that people should not hesitate to get help and that waiting could have serious consequences for patients.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and medical director for primary care in England said: “Alongside treating 110,000 people with coronavirus, NHS staff have gone to great lengths to make sure that people who do not have COVID-19 can safely access services. So whether you or a loved one has a routine appointment, or a potential cancer symptom, our message is clear – you are not a burden, we are here to safely care for you so please don't delay – Help Us Help You and come forward as you usually would. Cancer is easier to treat when it’s caught at an earlier stage and so coming forward for a check could save your life.”

NHS services have put a range of measures in place so that people can be treated safely throughout the pandemic including, COVID protected cancer surgery hubs - a COVID friendly drugs fund which means fewer trips to hospital and chemotherapy being delivered in more convenient locations.

Symptoms of cancer include:

• Changes in bowel habits, including blood in your poo
• Unexplained weight loss
• A lump
• Persistent bloating
• Pain that does not go away

The cancer Help Us Help You advert, which will start airing on TV from tomorrow, is available here.

TV chef Gordon Ramsay said: “As we head into winter, it’s really important that we remember that despite COVID-19, the NHS can still see us safely. I was really pleased to help reassure the public and remind them that the NHS is here for them when they need it.” 

Lockdown heroes – including 100-year-old Dabirul Choudhury with his Ramadan walk, Annemarie Plas who started Clap for Carers, and Ayesha Pakravan-Ovey who delivered hundreds of meals to those in isolation – will all join the NHS plea to say letting the NHS help you is one of the best ways of supporting the health service.

Dr Amir Khan said: “COVID-19 has been hugely challenging for everyone and while it’s easy to understand why people are fearful about seeking medical advice and want to avoid being a burden, it’s so important that people come to see us when they need us. If you’re pregnant, please go to your antenatal appointment and contact us if you’re worried about your health or your baby’s health. And if you’ve spotted something you think might be cancer, please contact your GP. We’re still here and we can see you safely.”

[1] Kantar data – A representative sample of 2,178 adults were asked about their attitudes to seeking medical help at the current time (September 2020), compared to what they would have done before the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020