Bowel Screening

National screening programme

The National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) administer the bowel screening programme.

See also HealthPathways: National Bowel Screening Programme

New patients

If the patient is new to the practice, check:

• transferred notes for any previous bowel screening results
• any history, or family history, of bowel cancer
• that the correct screening codes have been recorded, if applicable
• that they have been contacted by the programme, if eligible.

Enrolling patients

1. The National Bowel Screening Programme contact eligible patients directly, inviting them to join the programme.

   To help the NBSP achieve equitable participation, it is important that the patient's ethnicity is correctly entered into the PMS.

2. Update the patient's bowel screening registration status, once known, (opt in/out or ineligible) in Medtech.

   Until the patient confirms their preference, the default setting in the PMS is "opt in".

Results and recalls

The National Bowel Screening Programme send results to the patient and the practice within 3 weeks. Patients whose results are positive may be offered further appointments, or referred to a specialist, as appropriate.

Recalls are managed by the Bowel Screening Programme. The practice or patient will however need to notify the National Coordination Centre if the patient has been discharged from surveillance and is once again eligible for screening.

See also Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand National Bowel Screening Programme Primary Care Guide for more guidance.