A DVD to explain bowel scope screening to patients with learning disabilities has been launched to help those patients who have to undergo the procedure.
The project has involved Lincolnshire and Leicester bowel cancer screening centres, Leicestershire Partnership Trust and Lincolnshire Community Learning Disabilities teams in collaboration with NHS England. The DVD aims to give patients with learning disabilities and their carers a better understanding of what to expect before during and after the procedure.
Bowel scope screening uses a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the lining of the large bowel. The main aim of the procedure is the prevention of bowel cancer with the detection and removal of polyps. This differs from the traditional bowel cancer screening which uses faecal occult blood testing (FOBT or FOB) which detects hidden traces of blood in a patient’s faeces. The test is for men and women aged 55 years old who will be referred by their GP. People aged between 56-60 will also be able to self-refer through their GP practice.
Dr Sreedharan, Consultant Gastroenterologist for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Clinical Director for the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Lincolnshire, said: “This piece of work has enabled us increase screening awareness in the county. The DVD helps to explain the bowel scope process clearly for patients with learning disabilities and their carers in the hope that we can increase the numbers of people accessing bowel cancer screening across Lincolnshire.
“This is an excellent resource for all patients and carers and has come at a very appropriate time when we are about to start bowel scope roll out at Lincoln County Hospital.”
For any further information on bowel cancer screening please contact the Lincolnshire Screening Centre on 01522 597548 or call the regional hub on freephone 0800 707 60 60.
ENDS
For further information contact the Communications Team – 01522 573986
Notes to Editors
The DVD can be viewed here – www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6IQwMACXkj069Dsgg2o8VS67m7aTjYFO
The Lincolnshire Bowel Cancer Screening Centre has been screening 60-74 year olds since 2010 and is currently one of the most successful screening programmes in England.
The next step for the Lincolnshire Bowel Cancer Screening team is to complete implementation of a four phase roll out plan for bowel scope screening across Lincolnshire. The first phase of this roll out was implemented in September 2015 across the Lincolnshire East CCG (covering the Boston Area, East Lindsey, Skegness and Coast) and early national reporting shows this phase to be highly successful in terms of patient experience and clinical outcome against national average. Phase two of the roll out is imminent and will involve further roll out across Lincolnshire West CCG (covering Lincoln, Gainsborough and the surrounding areas).