Advice and bidding documentation published for the Flexible Sigmoidoscopy pilot
The document published advises the NHS about how the Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (FS) pilot programme will work including the outline criteria for the pilot and first wave site selection. It sets out how the four-clustered Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) can bid for their local bowel cancer screening centres to be a FS pilot and first wave sites.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy is a complementary bowel screening methodology to the current Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test. Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer published in January 2011 set out how, in order to save 3,000 lives a year, the Department of Health has committed to invest £60 million between 2011 and 2015 to incorporate Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (FS) into the current bowel screening programme.
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: Piloting of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (FS) - Advice to the NHS and bidding process sets out when pilots will begin in 2012/13. The aim is to achieve 30 per cent coverage by the end of 2013/14 and 60 per cent by the end of 2014/15. It is envisaged that a full roll out will be achieved in 2016.