A new £84,000 pilot project has launched on the Isle of Wight, involving all 12 GP practices, to improve bowel cancer screening rates and increase awareness within the local community over the next 9 months.
The pilot project will help to detect cancer earlier and save lives.
The initiative aims to boost participation in bowel cancer screening by enhancing confidence in completing and returning FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Tests) kits, a crucial step in early detection.
Dr Michele Legg, Local Island GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, says:
“Screening can detect early signs of cancer before symptoms appear. Early detection saves lives, and this project is about ensuring people feel comfortable and informed taking part in bowel cancer screening.
“Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. It is also one of the most treatable if caught early, yet screening uptake remains lower than we would like. By increasing awareness and providing the right support, we can encourage more people on the Island to take this simple but vital step for their health.”
The £84,000 funding, secured by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight granted by Wessex Cancer Alliance, will engage local communities through awareness events and provide training for clinicians and patient advisors, ensuring they can support and encourage more people to take part in screening.
Although the pilot is being conducted on the Isle of Wight, it will be evaluated to measure its impact on screening participation and community awareness. If successful, it could help shape future initiatives to improve early bowel cancer detection rates in other areas like on the mainland in Hampshire.
Mr Steve Elsmore, Consultant Endoscopy Lead, St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“I cannot stress enough the importance of bowel screening.
“Early detection saves lives—catching bowel cancer at an early stage significantly improves treatment success and survival rates.
“The screening test is simple, painless, and could make all the difference. If you receive a screening kit, please take the time to complete it. It’s a small step that could protect your health and give you peace of mind.”
If you’re aged 54 to 74 and registered with a GP, you’ll automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test kit (FIT kit) through the post every 2 years. It will soon be offered to everyone aged 50 to 74, so you may be sent a home test kit now if you’re aged 50 or over. The FIT test is quick, simple, and can be done in the privacy of your own home.
If you notice any symptoms of bowel cancer, contact your GP, and don’t wait for your screening test. The type of changes to look out for are changes in your usual bowel habits for three weeks or more:
- Tummy discomfort
- Blood in poo
- Diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason
- A feeling of not having emptied your bowels after going to the toilet
- Pain in your stomach or bottom
- Your poo is loose, pale or looks greasy.
Information on bowel cancer can be found on the nhs.uk website.
