| Health Minister Andy Kerr confirmed today the roll-out of the national bowel screening programme will begin from March 2007 with all NHS Board areas being covered by 2009.
The programme will be run from a central laboratory, call/recall and helpline facility based at Kings Cross. It will offer men and women aged 50 to 74 a test every two years that will check for traces of blood in the stools, a symptom that can give early warning of cancer.
It was from Kings Cross that the pilot study targeted every man and woman between the ages of 50 and 69 in Tayside, Fife and Grampian to test the feasibility of a national screening programme.
Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in Scotland. In 2004 there were 1550 deaths in Scotland from the disease.
The screening programme aims to reduce deaths by 15%, potentially saving over 150 lives a year.
The announcement from the Scottish Executive stated the programme will cost £19.5 million in its first three years of roll-out but there was no announcement of any new money today. The statement indicated funding would be met from “existing NHS Board allocation increases”.
Announcing the details, Mr Kerr said, “Reducing cancer deaths is one of the top health priorities for the Scottish Executive. If a cancer is identified early, treatment can be delivered quickly and survival rates improve. That is why screening is so important.
“Bowel cancer is second to lung cancer as the most common cause of cancer deaths among men and women in Scotland.
“Following the successful pilot in NHS Tayside, Grampian and Fife, I am pleased to announce the national roll out of the programme.
“This screening programme aims to reduce mortality by 15%, potentially saving over 150 lives a year.
“Testing kits will be posted to 650,000 people in the target age range. These tests are completed at home and then returned for screening. Patients will receive results within two weeks.
“Screening in the pilot areas is continuing. We are investing £2 million of capital funding to develop an IT system and to expand the national facility in Dundee where returned kits will be screened.”
The pilot demonstrated 60% of those targeted accept the screening invitation. |
