GP Community of Practice
What is our GP Community of Practice?
Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK are supporting a Community of Practice for GPs interested in improving cancer outcomes. The Community of Practice is a supportive space for all GPs across the UK, whether in cancer related roles or not, and will be an opportunity to:
- Hear from a range of expert speakers on cancer and wider primary care issues
- Connect with peers from across the UK, take part in clinically-led discussions and share your experiences
- Access the latest Macmillan and Cancer Research UK evidence updates and resources
There will be monthly webinars alternately led by Macmillan or Cancer Research UK or, with the option to join live, or watch back recordings.
Meet the Chairs
The Community of Practice will be hosted by clinicians from both Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support:
Dr Owen Carter is a GP Partner in South London with a specialist interest in oncology, working across primary care, acute services and cancer systems. He is a Macmillan National Clinical Advisor, following earlier roles as a Macmillan GP Facilitator and Clinical Borough Lead for Cancer in Wandsworth. He previously served as Primary Care Clinical Director at RM Partners Cancer Alliance. He remains in clinical practice three days a week and is committed to tackling cancer inequities and improving personalised care.
Dr Elise Lang is a GP partner in Cardiff, working as a GP trainer and medical student teacher. Since 2016 she is the Primary Care Lead for Velindre Cancer Centre, delivering oncology education and supporting communication improvements. She co leads work on Wales cancer treatment summaries and prognostic terminology. Since 2018 she has worked at Macmillan and is one of four national clinical leads as part of the Centre of Clinical Expertise, representing the devolved nations and co chairing the Primary Care COP with Owen.
Dr Katie Elliott is Clinical Lead for Cancer Research UK and a GP and Clinical Director for the Northern Cancer Alliance in the North East and North Cumbria. She works locally and nationally with primary care, clinical and managerial teams to improve and innovate cancer pathways. Katie champions primary care and patient voices, including work with the NENC learning disability network, and works with imaging and diagnostics colleagues to improve patient experience and outcomes.
Dr Cat Roberts is a Cancer Research UK Clinical Lead, GP and senior clinical leader with interests in frailty, integrated care, primary care transformation, education and innovative service design. She is GP Workforce Lead at NHS Coventry & Warwickshire ICB, an Honorary Associate Clinical Professor at Warwick Medical School, and former Associate Dean for the Midlands Primary Care School. Her work has driven innovative care models, established workforce retention initiatives, and supported future GP education and leadership development.
Webinars
Episode 4 – ‘Bone Cancers’
21 January 2026 | [Runtime 1 hour 1 minute 59 seconds]
In this webinar, we were joined by three guest speakers:
- Silvia Kraft who is Policy & Awareness Officer at Bone Cancer Research Trust. Silvia, through discussion with our Chair of the session shares information about the charity, their strategic pillars, and how they work with healthcare professionals to raise awareness of primary bone cancer.
- Dr Meena Rafiq who is a GP & Principal Clinical Research Fellow at UCL, London also shared information on primary bone cancer.
- Dr Anne-Mary Young who is a Consultant Oncologist Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) at St George’s University Hospital NHS Trust. Anne-Mary shared with attendees some case studies and lessons learnt re: secondary bone cancers.
Episode 3 - ‘Immunotherapy’
26 November 2025 | [Runtime 59 minutes 03 seconds]
In this webinar, we were joined by two guest speakers – Dr Ricky Frazer, Oncology Consultant and Dr Anna Olsson, Oncology Consultant
Ricky and Anna gave details on what Immunotherapy is, treatments, side effects etc. and explored how primary care can play a pivotal role in supporting patients on immunotherapy.
Episode 2 – LGBTIQ+ healthcare with a particular focus on cancer care
17 September 2025 | [Runtime 1 hour 0 minutes 50 seconds]
In this webinar, we are joined by two guest speakers:
Dr Alison Berner
Alison is an Honorary Consultant and Academic Clinical Lecturer in Medical Oncology at Barts Cancer Institute. Alison is also the lead for the UK Cancer & Transition Service (UCATS). Please click on this link to read more about UCATS - UK Cancer and Transition Service - Transplus
At the webinar, Alison shared the background to gender affirming care and how this intersects with cancer and inherited cancer risk.
Stewart O’Callaghan
Stewart is the Founder & Chief Executive of OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity.
Stewart shared the progress so far and the road yet to travel regarding cancer care for the LGBTIQ+ community. Stewart also covered the positive steps towards greater inclusion over the past five years, and what innovation and opportunities are on the horizon to maintain this forward momentum.
View the episode slides LGBTIQ+ healthcare with a particular focus on cancer care (PDF).
Episode 01 – Breast Cancer
16 July 2025 | [Runtime 1 hour 0 minutes 30 seconds]
In this webinar, we are joined by Professor Richard Simcock, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS Consultant Oncologist at University Hospitals, West Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
During Richard’s talk, he shared an update on Breast Cancer, including:
- New data on HRT risks
- Breast density
- Genetic screening
- New treatments
- Hormonal therapy after breast cancer
- Shared care
We also had Dr Anthony Cunliffe, Lead Medical Adviser at Macmillan, give an update on Macmillan’s Cancer Support line i.e. what support is available to patients and medical professionals.
How to join future sessions
To become a member of our GP Community of Practice, email Cawilliams@macmillan.org.uk or complete this registration form
2025/26 Webinar dates
All sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams.
- Wednesday 26 November, 13:00 to 14:00 - Immunotherapy.
- Wednesday 21 January 2026, 13:00 to 14:00 - Primary bone cancer
- Wednesday 18 March, 13:00 to 14:00
- Wednesday 20 May, 13:00 to 14:00
- Wednesday 15 July, 13:00 to 14:00
- Wednesday 16 September, 13:00 to 14:00
- Wednesday 18 November, 13:00 to 14:00
Details of each guest speaker for the webinars will be added once confirmed.
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We are Undefeatable campaign
Episode 41 – We are Undefeatable campaign
28 January 2025 | 58 minutes 57 seconds
In this webinar, we are joined by Peter Dutton, Activation Manager, We Are Undefeatable and Emma Hutchins, Physical Activity and Health Influencing Manager from The Richmond Group of Charities.
The first part of the webinar shares insights from We Are Undefeatable’s public consultation, which heard from over 2,200 people with long-term conditions and those who support them including health professionals about the motivations, barriers and enablers to being physically active. As well as a summary of the findings, Emma and Peter will focus in on responses from health professionals and from respondents who reported living with cancer to better understand specific issues, including a difference in perceptions about what the barriers are between professionals and patients.
The second part will translate these insights into context for prehabilitation and rehabiltation and show how We Are Undefeatable can be a useful resource for professionals and cancer patients. Peter and Emma will share some of the stories from their fantastic We Are Undefeatable cast who have experienced cancer and some practical tools and resources health professionals can use.
Read the PDF slides of this episode about We are Undefeatable and people living with cancer.
Learn more about the We are Undefeatable campaign. -
ENRICH Project
Episode 40 – ENRICH Project
26 November 2024 | 30 minutes 20 seconds
In this webinar, we are joined by Joanna Injore, Dietetic Clinical Fellow at Macmillan Cancer Support.
Joanna will share the preliminary results of the ENRICH Project (Engaging Nutrition Resources for Inclusive Cancer Health) which aims to explore cancer nutrition/diet resources for people from ethnic minority communities.
The first stage of this work was to gather insights on nutrition and diet information available for people from diverse communities and from healthcare professionals providing support and advice.
Joanna discusses the project and shares some of the results from the professional survey.
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CAN-EMPOWER
Episode 39 – CAN-EMPOWER
28 October 2024 | 56 minutes
In this webinar, we are joined by Dan Aze, Lynn Calman and David Wright. Daniel, Lynn and David will provide an overview of their project, CAN-EMPOWER.
The aim of this project was to develop a freely available, evidence-based digital resource to enhance confidence to manage psychological problems/well-being for people living with and beyond cancer.
In the webinar Lynn and David will discuss the development of the resource informed by the Person Based Approach. This approach is an iterative set of methods to develop interventions that people will find easy to use and engaging, by embedding input from people likely to use the resource throughout all of the research. People with lived experience of cancer and a range of health professionals were involved in the development..
They will discuss the two work packages involved in developing the intervention and present the completed intervention, underpinning evidence and some ideas for implementation. After they presentation they look forward to a discussion about how webinar attendees think this will align with current practice and suggestions for implementation.
Read the PDF slides of this episode about the development of the CAN-POWER project.
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Clinical Exercise
24th September 2024 | Runtime 58 minutes 53 seconds
In this webinar, we are joined by Anthony Crozier, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Jack Jones, Senior Clinical Exercise Psychologist and Beatrice Hamilton, PI for Plymouth Trust for the STAMINA Trail. Beatrice will be joined by two participants in the trial.
Anthony will provide an overview of the Clinical Exercise Physiologist Role and the pathway to registration as a healthcare professional.
Jack will discuss the benefits Clinical Exercise Physiologist’s can bring to a prehab service. In addition, the challenges of a real-world implementation of Prehabilitation and principles of Exercise Prescription during Prehabilitation.
Beatrice and the participants will share their reflections on taking part in the STAMINA trail including a video made by the participants. Beatrice will also share her reflections on being a nurse PI.
View Anthony Crozier's presentation slides (PDF) and Jack Jones presentation slides (PDF).
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Digital prehabilitation
30th July 2024 | 101 minutes and 22 seconds
In this webinar, we are joined by Sasha Karakusevic from the NHS Horizons team who will discuss the work that Sport England are doing on behalf of Department of Culture Media and their Uniting the Movement strategy.
We are also joined by two major prehabilitation projects. Denny Levitt and Rebecca Livingston will be highlighting their innovative approaches and successes in the digital prehabilitation space. Denny will discuss digital enablement for prehabilitation and Rebecca will discuss iPREPWELL - co-designing and implementing a digital prehabilitation platform.
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The PARITY Study - An Update
25th June 2024 | 51 minutes and 5 seconds
Prehabilitation has much to offer people who are preparing for cancer surgery, but there are wide differences in how it is implemented across the UK, and because engaging in prehabilitation requires time, effort and sometimes money, it may benefit some people more than others. The PARITY study seeks to better understand how prehabilitation for cancer surgery interacts with health inequalities. In this webinar, Cliff Shelton, Chief Investigator of the study, will provide an update on what PARITY has found out so far, and the plans for the final stage of the project.
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Reducing Inequitable Delays for Patients with Learning Disability
28 May 2024 | 42 minutes and 7 seconds
In this webinar, we are joined by Adrienne Lee, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow and Anaesthetist in Training. Adrienne discusses her project which aims to address the underlying differential access issues for patients with learning disability while waiting for medical or surgical procedures and support them whilst on the waiting list.
Read the PDF slides of this episode about reducing inequitable delays for patients with learning disability
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Prehabilitation in Primary Care and the English Cancer Alliance Planning Guidance 2024
30 April 2024 | 53 minutes
In this webinar, we are joined by Anthony Cunliffe, Macmillan’s Lead Medical Adviser and GP and Samantha Tordesillas, Programme Manager for Personalised Care, South East London Cancer Alliance.
Anthony discusses the vital role that Primary Care can play in prehabilitation and Sam discusses the new planning guidance for English Cancer Alliances that relates to prehabilitation and work her alliance has been doing around it.
Read the PDF slides of this episode about prehabiltation in primary care.
Stay in touch on Microsoft Teams
If you're part of the GP Community of Practice and would like to join the Practices Teams channel, please email Catherine Williams (PA at Macmillan Cancer Support) at Cawilliams@macmillan.org.uk to request access.
Resources for your role
- Resources for GPs. We have tools and resources to help GPs support people living with or at risk of cancer.
- The Cancer Professionals Podcast. Listen to Macmillan’s podcast where you can hear from expert guests and find out about the latest innovations and best practice
External resources
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Primary Care resources
- Gateway C Early cancer diagnosis resources
- MIMS Learning Free cancer resources for healthcare professionals
- OUTpatients LGBTQI+ resources
- South East London Cancer Alliance Cancer diagnosis resources
Support for your patients
- Macmillan Buddies. Find out more about Macmillan Buddies and how they can support people affected by cancer.
- Cancer support services for your patients. Learn how we can support the people you help