A pilot project which will help address health inequalities across the region will be rolled out with support from the West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA).

Following collaborative efforts and best practice in addressing the late diagnosis of prostate cancer among black men, WMCA will help roll out the Black Health Equity pilot delivery model in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.

The pilot aims to address the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer on black men, while fostering a culturally inclusive healthcare system where black men receive equitable, timely, and high-quality prostate cancer care.

This initiative serves as a blueprint for achieving health equity in prostate cancer and will be expanded to other priority regions across the country.

Kassandra Styche, Health Inequalities Manager at WMCA, said: “We’re thrilled to have been selected to roll out this important piece of work, and it further highlights our commitment to ensure that everyone receives the best care possible, regardless of their race, gender or postcode.

“We’ve worked closely with key stakeholders and patients with lived experience to continuously drive initiatives focused on improving the early diagnosis of cancer in black men.

“We’re also working with a dedicated focus group to develop a regional resource toolkit, in collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK, which will raise awareness and address the inequalities in prostate cancer outcomes for black men.”

Keith Morgan, Associate Director of Black Health Equity, said: “Despite substantial advances in early detection/prevention and treatments, and improved outcomes in recent decades, prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect black men.​

“We are implementing a test and learn approach to saving black men's lives starting with a pilot delivery model in the West Midlands. We have chosen the West Midlands for four reasons: 

1. The West Midlands has the second largest population of black or mixed black population in England and Wales
2. The West Midlands has high rates of men being diagnosed too late for curative treatment
3. Almost half of households located in West Midlands are within the 20% most deprived areas in England. Prostate cancer incidence, survival and treatment are associated with socio-economic deprivation
4. The West Midlands has seen a slower recovery of referrals and treatments for urological cancers (below the national recovery line)

“Critically, it is the combined impact of all four factors that provides the compelling case for focusing on the West Midlands.”