-
Topics
- All Topics
- Self Care
- Blood & Skin
- Cancer & Screening
- Cardiovascular & Respiratory
-
Children & Family
- Child Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health
- Children, Young People & Family
- Domestic Violence & Abuse
- Female Genital Mutilation
- Gender Identity
- Homelessness
- Learning Disabilities & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Migrant Health
- Safeguarding Adults
- Safeguarding Children
- Sexual Health
- Social Prescribing
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Diabetes & Endocrine
- Diagnostics & Investigations
- Frailty & Complex Care
- Gastroenterology, Colorectal, Renal & Urology
- Head, Neck & Eyes
- Infectious Diseases
- Mental Health
- MSK
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Nutrition & Weight Management
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Social Care & Safeguarding
- Urgent & Emergency
- Pathways
-
Medicines
- Community Pharmacy
- Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer
- Electronic Prescription Service
- Infections and Antibiotics
- Medicines Compliance
- Medicines Management Teams: NCL
- Medicines Optimisation Prescribing Policies
- Medicines Supply Issues
- Opioids and Dependence-forming Medications
- Patient Group Directions
- Prescribing Guidelines
- Prescribing Quality Scheme (PQS)
- Prescribing Recommendations (NPR)
- Prescribing Watch
- Self-Care Medicines Scheme (SCMS)
- Shared Care
- Fact Sheets
-
Practice Management
- Cancer Care Resources
- Deadlines
- Enhanced Services
- General Practice Access Support
- General Practice Staff Survey
- Greener NCL: Sustainable General Practice
- Hospital Bypass Contacts
- Immunisations & Vaccinations
- Interface Consensus
- Practice Vacancies
- Referral Support
- Research Opportunities
- Submit a Patient Safety Incident Report
- Submit a Quality Alert
- Support for Staff
- Veterans’ Healthcare
- Education
- Digital
Bowel Screening
NCL WideThe UCLH bowel screening centre sees all patients registered with an NCL GP who return a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT). A colonoscopy, or CT colonography, is arranged at UCLH.
A small number of patients are reluctant to go to UCLH due to the distance from their home. In these cases, GPs are asked to make a local symptomatic referral on the suspected cancer pathway.
The bowel screening centre is unable to make direct onward referrals and is reliant on the cooperation of GPs to ensure patients receive the important follow-up tests. Plans are underway to increase direct referral options in NCL.
Contact tom.smith13@nhs.net if you have queries.
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
The Faecal Immunochemical Test (also known as the FIT kit) is a modern and effective screening test, aiming to detect bowel cancer in asymptomatic individuals at an early stage (when treatment is more likely to be effective) and those with polyps.
Evidence suggests that using FIT in the bowel screening programme has increased uptake by 8-10%. Using the kit takes just a few minutes, and is an easy and effective way to screen for early bowel cancer. The initial sensitivity threshold for FIT is 120µg/g.
The FIT kit, along with instructions on how to use it at home, is sent about two weeks after eligible patients receive a pre-invitation letter and information leaflet explaining screening and its possible benefits/risks (see External Links). Once used, the individual posts the kit in its prepaid packaging to a laboratory for processing.
Results are sent out two weeks after the laboratory receives the completed kit.
About two in every 100 people have a result that has found an amount of blood in their sample above the screening range. These people will be offered further tests (usually a colonoscopy) to look for the cause of the blood. This does not mean they have cancer, but could identify other potential causes, such as haemorrhoids or bowel polyps.
Screening invitations
Invitations (both the letters and screening kits) are sent from a central hub at St Mark's Hospital. Individuals across NCL are sent to UCLH for further investigations if they have a positive result following the completion of a FIT kit. Patients need to have up to date addresses in GP records.
The Bowel Screening Hub Helpline can be called if patients have missed their screening, to request a replacement kit: 080 0707 6060
For more related information, see the Cancer Care Resources section of this website.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusions
Eligibility for the NHS Bowel Screening Programme is as follows:
- aged 52-74: invitations are automatically sent every two years to men and women
- age 75+: men and women can request a screening kit every two years by calling the free Bowel Screening Hub Helpline on t: 080 0707 6060
As of April 2021, there has been a phased introduction to lowering the screening age. People aged 50 will start being invited for screening in early 2025.
How to Refer
EMIS form
Referral methods: Email
Complete the Test Kit Request Form – Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Hub – NCL referral form and email to LNWH-tr.BCSP@nhs.net
Where to find the form
- Barnet: BAR Global Documents > Referral Forms (BAR Global)
- Camden: Camden Global Documents > Cancer
- Enfield: ENF Global Documents > Cancer
- Haringey: HAR Global Documents > Cancer
- Islington: ISL Global Documents > Cancer
Service Feedback
Downloads
Videos View All
Resources
Related Services
Breast Screening
Breast screening services for women aged 50+ NCL WideCervical Screening
Cervical screening services for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 in England NCL WideRelated Topics View All
Frail & Elderly
Information about frail and elderly services across NCLGastroenterology
Screening
Colorectal
Information about colorectal services across NCLCancer
Information about cancer services across NCLReview date: Friday, 10 October 2025