Jenny Jones: NHS Excellence Awards Learning Disabilities Champion

Jenny Jones and her team have been recognised as a Regional Champion in the Improving Health Outcomes category for the NHS Excellence Awards for their breast education project for women with learning disabilities.

We are delighted to celebrate Jenny Jones, who has been named a Regional Champion in the Improving Health Outcomes category at the inaugural NHS Excellence Awards. Jenny is Greater Manchester’s Senior Clinical Lead for Learning Disabilities and Health Inequalities at Pennine Care, and was previously a winner in our Dragons’ Den live grant round at our Research Conference in September 2024, for her Let’s Talk Boobs breast cancer education project for women with learning disabilities.

Jenny’s project, Let’s Talk Boobs, explored an important question: can bespoke, reasonably adjusted breast cancer education improve breast health literacy and increase the confidence of women with learning disabilities to engage in screening?

The project responded to a clear and significant health inequality. Women with learning disabilities are less likely to attend breast screening and more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage. More widely, this group experiences poorer health outcomes, earlier mortality, and significant barriers to accessing healthcare.
In Greater Manchester, breast screening uptake in this group was reported as 47.7%, compared with 64.6% in the general population.

To help tackle this disparity, the 12-month pilot delivered a programme of co-produced, accessible breast cancer awareness workshops across Greater Manchester. Initially designed as 10 workshops reaching up to 100 women, the programme was co-produced and delivered with Pathways Associates CIC, 5 NHS Trusts, community organisations, and women with lived experience of learning disabilities.

Early sessions, which began in May 2025, highlighted a broader need for breast health education. In response, the target group was expanded to include women aged 18 and over, rather than only those eligible for screening (50+). This improved reach and reflected the importance of building awareness long before formal screening invitations.

The workshops were designed with women with lived experience at the centre, ensuring the content was relevant, inclusive and easy to understand.
Sessions explored breast health awareness, self-examination, understanding cancer, the breast screening journey, reducing fear and anxiety around mammography, and routes into reasonably adjusted screening pathways.

Teaching methods were practical and engaging, using easy-read materials, games, visual tools, demonstrations, films, discussion and peer support. This interactive approach helped build understanding, reduce stigma and increase confidence in a supportive environment.

The project has had a strong impact, reaching 80 women with learning disabilities and around 25 support staff and family members.

Women who attended reported improved knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms, better understanding of how to check their breasts and the importance of screening, greater confidence discussing breast health, and reduced anxiety about attending appointments. 88% of women reported that they would now definitely choose to attend their screening when invited.

The project also highlighted the importance of safe spaces, accessible communication, and the vital role of carers and support staff in helping women engage with health services.

Crucially, it showed that relatively small, practical interventions can make a meaningful difference in tackling long-standing health inequities.

The pilot has also created a model that can be replicated more widely to improve access, awareness and outcomes in cancer prevention.

Reflecting on the project, Jenny said:

What a privilege to lead this work, which has had such a positive impact on the lives of women with learning disabilities. These women are often forgotten about when it comes to research and developing accessible services.

I would like to thank all the project team who worked hard to develop, deliver and evaluate this amazing intervention and to Prevent Breast Cancer for their generous funding.

Finally, I would like to thank the women with learning disabilities who attended. I hope your newfound knowledge and confidence in relation to breast health leads to long and healthy lives.

Jenny’s Regional Champion status is well deserved.

Her work demonstrates how co-produced, compassionate approaches can improve outcomes for people who are too often overlooked or excluded from mainstream services.

It is also a powerful reminder that innovation does not always require expensive technology or large-scale programmes. Sometimes it starts with listening, adapting services, and designing support around the people who need it most.

Jenny received the news in an email, which said:

This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the impact of your work.

This recognition celebrates the outstanding impact of Jenny’s work across the NHS and partner organisations, and we are thrilled to see her achievements recognised on a national stage.

She has now been invited to attend the awards ceremony at NHS ConfedExpo 2026 in Manchester this June.

We warmly congratulate Jenny Jones and the Let’s Talk Boobs project team on this fantastic achievement.