New bowel cancer service launched in Bridgwater
The service is the first of its kind
A new self-referral service to make it easier for people to get checked for bowel cancer has been launched in Bridgwater.
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has been working on the pilot to speed up the process of diagnosis.
It will be open to people in their 40s, who are registered with a local GP.
Every year, over 2,500 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK.
It is often harder to diagnose through the traditional referral via a GP, with 1 in 4 people being diagnosed as an emergency, and often at the latest stage.
Until now, people would provide test samples to their GP, who would then let them know if any further tests are required.
This involves booking a GP appointment and often people find it difficult or are embarrassed by the process.
NHS Somerset have been working with cancer detection specialists C the Signs to develop a first-of-its-kind online referral form which allows people to check their symptoms.
Rosie Edgerley, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s cancer programme manager, said: “Our data showed that there are younger people being diagnosed with late-stage bowel cancer in Somerset, with the highest proportion being in the Bridgwater area.
“We also know that it can be embarrassing for people to talk about their pooing habits with a healthcare professional, which is why we are working with a company called C the Signs to develop an easily accessible online referral form which checks people’s eligibility and allows them to complete a FIT test, which if positive, will lead to further investigations.”
C the Signs is a cancer prediction system that can identify patients at risk of cancer at the earliest and most curable stage of the disease.
It has now been developed to allow patients with bowel symptoms to access their risk and recommend any appropriate tests.
Miss Shelly Griffiths, a consultant colorectal surgeon at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, who’s also been involved with the project, said: “This new service is an easy way for people to seek help for a problem with their bowels, without having to make an appointment to see their GP.
“We know that the earlier we find a problem, the more able we are to treat it, and we would encourage anyone with concerns to use this new service.”
Find out more about the service on the NHS website here.