Overview
Initiated by the Australian Government in conjunction with all States and Territory health departments, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) has been designed to assist in the early detection of bowel cancer and reduce the Australian morbidity rates.
Between 2002 and 2004 a Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Program was run throughout parts of Australia including Mackay. Following the success of the pilot program, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program began to be phased in August 2006.
Objectives
The objectives of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) are:
- To maximise the early detection of bowel cancer in the target population through Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) screening followed, as appropriate, by assessment colonoscopy provided through mainstream health services;
- To ensure equitable access to the Program for men and women in the eligible population irrespective of their geographic, socioeconomic or cultural background;
- To ensure that assessment colonoscopy services provided are timely, acceptable and appropriate and are undertaken in accordance with professional standards, for people requiring colonoscopy as a result of the Program;
- To maximise the benefits and minimize harm to the individual particularly in relation to assessment colonoscopy;
- To achieve high standards of program management, coordination, quality and safety, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation and accountability; and
- To ensure that the Program is implemented in a manner that is cost effective and will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from bowel cancer.
Program Detail
Phase 1 of the NBCSP finished on 30 June 2008.
As part of the Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced their commitment to expand the NBCSP over the coming years. The Government has committed $87.2 million over three years to 2010 to provide bowel cancer screening to everyone turning 50, 55 or 65 between 2008 and 2010.
As in Phase 1 of the Program, invitations to participate and Faecal Occult Blood Test kits will be automatically sent to those eligible at their Medicare-registered address. Invitations and kits will be distributed between July 2008 and December 2010.
Involvement of General Practice is critical to the success of the NBCSP, especially their role in:
- Explaining the program and encouraging participation;
- Answering questions regarding the FOBT;
- Referring participants with a positive FOBT result for further assessment;
- Discussing the symptoms and/or family history with individuals;
- Supplying data to the national register; and
- Providing ongoing care of participants who ultimately proceed to treatment.
NBCSP in Queensland
In Queensland, a number of steps to ensure that Program participants with a positive FOBT result have access to high quality and timely assessment colonoscopy services. Additonal funding has been committed by Queensland Health to meet the demand for assessment colonoscopies generated by the Program that are referred to the public sector.
The capacity to provide these additional services is not evenly spread across Queensland. To maximise the availability of assessment colonoscopies, an Authorised Provider model has been developed for the Program, which is currently being implemented in the public sector. This model involves the identification of designated Queensland Health facilities which currently have the capacity to provide additional services for the Program within 30 days of referral, and authorised providers (specialists) who will provide these services for the Program. In some catchments, public patients will have their procedure at a private facility under the Program.
Any Program participants with a positive FOBT result who choose to have their assessment colonoscopy privately should be managed as per your usual referral arrangements.
For more information, please visit www.health.qld.gov.au/bowelcancer
CURRENT NEWS
- Forms for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), including General Practitioner Assessment forms, are now able to be submitted electronically.
These electronic forms can be accessed through the NBCSP website at www.cancerscreening.gov.au
- In response to requests from GPs, North East Valley Division of General Practice (Victoria) has developed a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Assessment Form template that can be integrated into practice the software suites Medical Director, Best Practice, ZedMed and GP Complete. This form will be accepted by the Register as all the information is included, and it is in the same order as for the official NBCSP stationary.
This was passed on by a Victorian counterpart, with advice that NEVDGP is happy for it to be distributed to any GP practices who may find it useful. Please feel free to pass this along to any of your practices.
The template and detailed instructions on how to upload it into the various practice software suites can be found at the following link: http://www.nevdgp.org.au/?content=14
Achievements
Latest participation rates in Queensland
- As at the end of Phase 1 (June 2008), 203 245 invitations were sent with 86 039 kits returned. 76 303 negative results and 6332 positive results were recorded (3404 participants recorded no result or inconclusive).
- The overall participation rate as at the end of June 2008 in Queensland was 42.3%
Resources
NBCSP Contact Number Flyer - for GPs, Practice Managers and Receptionists
Developed by Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice
Australia’s Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot and Beyond Final Evaluation Report
National Bowel Cancer Screening Register – Free Fax Number: 1800 115 062
The Bottom Line - A publication from the Queensland Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Links
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Queensland Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Queensland Health
The Cancer Council Queensland
Feedback
Elise Gorman
Project Officer
Email: egorman@gpqld.com.au
Phone: 07 3105 8300