A partnership to promote prostate cancer screening has been recognised at an event in Flintshire.

The collaboration between North Wales Police and prostate cancer awareness charity the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT) was celebrated at Mold Police Station on May 30.

The partnership represents a commitment to safeguard the health and wellbeing of men in their workplace.

The initiative highlights the need for early detection of prostate problems, an issue that has been in the forefront following the King’s recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

In 2019, GFCT started working with North Wales Police to offer Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test screening in offices and stations across the police estate to male employees and those over 40.

A PSA test is a blood test which can detect the early signs of prostate cancer.

It measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.

The innovative partnership between North Wales Police and GFCT has been replicated in other forces throughout the country and is viewed as a model of how to integrate screening in the emergency services workplace.

Following a meeting about the project, Susan Hart, a trustee of GFCT, along with Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, attended a screening session at Mold Police Station.

They watched the in-work testing procedure and the advice and support given to the men in attendance.

READ MORE:

Ms Hart was presented with a certificate signed by the PCC and North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman to commemorate the screening collaboration.

North Wales Police was the first in the UK to implement this life-saving initiative, thanks to Maria Hughes, former head of medical services and wellbeing at North Wales Police.

Ms Hughes said: "As an organisation North Wales Police were extremely keen to support the workforce in a proactive way.

"Working with the charity has resulted in 12 lives being saved in North Wales Police through staff who did not actually display any symptoms.

" As we know the PSA is an indicator not a diagnostic tool but enables wider conversation with a staff members GP.

"The Force is also super proud to have been the first police force in the UK to take forward this project."

Mr Dunbobbin added: "It is important for all organisations to value the health and wellbeing of their staff and the police is no different.

"As well as ensuring officers and staff feel both in good health and in good spirits, screening sessions like this also mean they are also able to serve the people of the region more effectively and detect any issues early.

"I am delighted that this very highly regarded partnership with the GFCT to screen the workforce is being emulated elsewhere in the country.

"It is a sign of how our pioneering work here in North Wales is leading the way for policing across the country."

The GFCT was established by Graham and Sue Fulford to raise awareness of prostate cancer following the diagnosis of a close friend and a close family member.

Since 2004, in partnership with others, GFCT has been involved in testing more than 138,557 men and carrying out 283,114 tests.

To know more about the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust and PSA screening, visit: www.psatests.org.uk/