Yes, if you are eligible call the National Bowel Screening Programme freephone on 0800 924 432, or chat to your GP or Māori health provider.
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The National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) is a free programme that aims to save lives by finding bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated. People who are diagnosed with bowel cancer and receive treatment when it is at an early stage, have a 90 percent chance of long-term survival.
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People aged 60 to 74 years who reside within the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Northland area and who are eligible for publicly funded health services. Information on who is eligible for publicly funded health services is available on Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora’s website or by phoning 0800 924 432 or emailing info@bowelscreening.health.nz.
Some eligible people are excluded from the programme for the following reasons:
- received a colonoscopy within the past five years
- previously or currently being treated for bowel cancer
- entire large bowel removed
- currently being treated for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- not eligible for publicly funded health care
There is also a large number of people in NZ who are not eligible to be invited because they have not had health sector contact in the previous three years or do not have an NHI. If this is you fit please contact the National Coordination Centre (NCC) and ask to be sent a kit.
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The test kit arrives in the mail with clear instructions and is completed in the privacy of your own home. You swipe a small sample of your poo using the test stick and put it into the tube which goes into the zip-lock bag provided. You place this zip-lock bag and your completed and signed consent form into the reply-paid envelope and drop it in the mailbox. You should be contacted with your results and told what this means for you within 3 weeks of returning your kit.
You need to return your test kit within 6 months of receiving it or the lab cannot process it.
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Please call the National Bowel Screening Programme on freephone 0800 924 432 or email info@bowelscreening.health.nz.
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A small number of participants will return a sample which the laboratory cannot test. The most common reasons are:
· omitting to peel the bar code off the consent form and put it onto the sample bottle
· omitting to record the date on which the sample was taken on the consent form
· failing to return the consent form with the sample
· the sample not reaching the laboratory within 8 days of being taken
· the sample has been taken on an expired test kit.
Samples received by the laboratory 8 days after the sample is taken are not tested. Participants are advised not to do the test on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday because postal delays could spoil the sample. Furthermore, the test kit has an expiry date and samples returned on an expired test kit are not tested.
To avoid having to repeat the test please read all instructions included with the test kit.
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You don’t need to do anything to join the programme. You will be invited to attend around the time you turn 60, or every 2 years and a test kit will be sent to your home. The invitation process is managed by the National Coordination Centre who have your details on their system from your NHI. If you haven’t received an invitation within two months of turning 60, please email the National Bowel Screening Programme on info@bowelscreening.health.nz
Please ensure your GP has your correct contact and postal address details.
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Do the test as soon as possible after receiving it. You need to return your test kit within 6 months of receiving it or the laboratory won’t be able to process it.
Keep the sample in a cool place until you post it. It does not need to be kept in the fridge. The test needs to reach the laboratory within 7 days of being completed, otherwise it won’t be accepted. To prevent any postal delays, it’s best not to send it on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
If you lose your kit or it expires, you can phone 0800 924 432 for a replacement kit.
-
It is important that people of any age seek medical advice if they notice a change to their normal bowel habit, that continues for several weeks, or blood in their bowel motion (poo) as these symptoms could indicate bowel cancer. If you have any concerns about your bowel health please seek advice from your GP or Māori health provider.
-
Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme colonoscopies are performed at both Kaitaia and Whangārei Hospital Endoscopy Suites.
-
The National Bowel Screening Programme started in Te Tai Tokerau on 2 November 2021.
-
You can get more information regarding the Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme via:
- The National Bowel Screening Programme website
- Call the freephone on 0800 924 432
- Talk to your General Practitioner or Māori Health Provider.
- Email the Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening programme team or call Whangārei hospital on 09 430 4100 and request the National Bowel Screening Programme team.
-
If you have one of these risk factors you may have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer:
- you have two or more close family members on the same side of the family who have had bowel cancer
- you have a close family member who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at a young age (under 55 years)
- you and your family have a known or suspected genetic bowel cancer syndrome.
This should be discussed with your doctor at your next visit, you may be advised to have regular colonoscopy or be referred to the New Zealand Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Service for assessment.
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- If you are aged 59, you will get your pack around your 60th birthday
- If you are aged 60-73, you will get your pack around your birthday
- If you are aged 74, you will get your pack before your 75th birthday (if you have not already been invited to screen).
The National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) is a free programme that aims to save lives by finding bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated. People who are diagnosed with bowel cancer and receive treatment when it is at an early stage, have a 90 percent chance of long-term survival.
People aged 60 to 74 years who reside within the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Northland area and who are eligible for publicly funded health services. Information on who is eligible for publicly funded health services is available on Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora’s website or by phoning 0800 924 432 or emailing info@bowelscreening.health.nz.
Some eligible people are excluded from the programme for the following reasons:
- received a colonoscopy within the past five years
- previously or currently being treated for bowel cancer
- entire large bowel removed
- currently being treated for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- not eligible for publicly funded health care
There is also a large number of people in NZ who are not eligible to be invited because they have not had health sector contact in the previous three years or do not have an NHI. If this is you fit please contact the National Coordination Centre (NCC) and ask to be sent a kit.
The test kit arrives in the mail with clear instructions and is completed in the privacy of your own home. You swipe a small sample of your poo using the test stick and put it into the tube which goes into the zip-lock bag provided. You place this zip-lock bag and your completed and signed consent form into the reply-paid envelope and drop it in the mailbox. You should be contacted with your results and told what this means for you within 3 weeks of returning your kit.
You need to return your test kit within 6 months of receiving it or the lab cannot process it.
Please call the National Bowel Screening Programme on freephone 0800 924 432 or email info@bowelscreening.health.nz.
A small number of participants will return a sample which the laboratory cannot test. The most common reasons are:
· omitting to peel the bar code off the consent form and put it onto the sample bottle
· omitting to record the date on which the sample was taken on the consent form
· failing to return the consent form with the sample
· the sample not reaching the laboratory within 8 days of being taken
· the sample has been taken on an expired test kit.
Samples received by the laboratory 8 days after the sample is taken are not tested. Participants are advised not to do the test on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday because postal delays could spoil the sample. Furthermore, the test kit has an expiry date and samples returned on an expired test kit are not tested.
To avoid having to repeat the test please read all instructions included with the test kit.
You don’t need to do anything to join the programme. You will be invited to attend around the time you turn 60, or every 2 years and a test kit will be sent to your home. The invitation process is managed by the National Coordination Centre who have your details on their system from your NHI. If you haven’t received an invitation within two months of turning 60, please email the National Bowel Screening Programme on info@bowelscreening.health.nz
Please ensure your GP has your correct contact and postal address details.
Do the test as soon as possible after receiving it. You need to return your test kit within 6 months of receiving it or the laboratory won’t be able to process it.
Keep the sample in a cool place until you post it. It does not need to be kept in the fridge. The test needs to reach the laboratory within 7 days of being completed, otherwise it won’t be accepted. To prevent any postal delays, it’s best not to send it on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
If you lose your kit or it expires, you can phone 0800 924 432 for a replacement kit.
It is important that people of any age seek medical advice if they notice a change to their normal bowel habit, that continues for several weeks, or blood in their bowel motion (poo) as these symptoms could indicate bowel cancer. If you have any concerns about your bowel health please seek advice from your GP or Māori health provider.
Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme colonoscopies are performed at both Kaitaia and Whangārei Hospital Endoscopy Suites.
The National Bowel Screening Programme started in Te Tai Tokerau on 2 November 2021.
You can get more information regarding the Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme via:
- The National Bowel Screening Programme website
- Call the freephone on 0800 924 432
- Talk to your General Practitioner or Māori Health Provider.
- Email the Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening programme team or call Whangārei hospital on 09 430 4100 and request the National Bowel Screening Programme team.
If you have one of these risk factors you may have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer:
- you have two or more close family members on the same side of the family who have had bowel cancer
- you have a close family member who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at a young age (under 55 years)
- you and your family have a known or suspected genetic bowel cancer syndrome.
This should be discussed with your doctor at your next visit, you may be advised to have regular colonoscopy or be referred to the New Zealand Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Service for assessment.
- If you are aged 59, you will get your pack around your 60th birthday
- If you are aged 60-73, you will get your pack around your birthday
- If you are aged 74, you will get your pack before your 75th birthday (if you have not already been invited to screen).