Who is eligible for bowel cancer screening in England?
Currently people aged 54 to 74 years who are registered with a GP and live in England are eligible for the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. We are gradually extending the age range, and expecting people aged 50 and 52 to also be invited as part of this process during 2024/25.
How do I get a Bowel Cancer Screening Test?
You will automatically receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT kit) for you to complete at home when you become eligible for the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. You will be sent a test every two years until you are 74 years old. If you would like to continue to receive a test once you become 75, you can inform the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by contacting the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request a FIT kit on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
What is a FIT aid?
The FIT aid is a tool that helps people complete their bowel cancer screening test. The FIT aid has a stand and a channel to guide the sample stick into the FIT kit. The FIT aid is currently being tested by people who are blind or partially sighted and/or have manual dexterity challenges.
Will everyone who is being invited to complete their bowel cancer screening be sent a FIT aid?
No, we are currently testing the FIT aid with people who are due to be invited to complete their bowel cancer screening between May 2024 and October 2024 and have registered that they need reasonable adjustments to complete their bowel cancer screening test. Participants are either blind or partially sighted and/or have manual dexterity challenges.
Who is eligible for a FIT aid?
We are currently testing the FIT aid with people who are due to be invited to complete their bowel cancer screening between May 2024 and October 2024. These people have registered that they need reasonable adjustments with the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme to complete their Bowel Cancer Screening Test because they are blind/partially sighted and/or have manual dexterity challenges.
When will the FIT aid be sent to me?
You will first receive a letter to let you know that you are due to complete the bowel cancer screening test. Your FIT aid will be sent to you after this letter and may arrive before the home test kit. If this happens, please keep it in a safe place.
The FIT aid will include instructions but if you require a different format contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request it on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
Can I request instructions in a different format?
The FIT aid instructions are available in large print, audio CD, braille and email or text link to use with screen readers. If you require a different format, contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request them on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
Did you consult with the blind and partially sighted community on this and to ensure the community’s view were considered?
Throughout the design and development of the FIT aid and instruction we have worked in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the Thomas Pocklington Trust and Parkinson’s UK. They supported us to test the design and instructions with a group of 30 people who were sent a FIT aid when completing their Bowel Cancer Screening in September 2023. Feedback from the small group has been incorporated into the current evaluation.
I haven’t received my FIT aid. What should I do?
If you have received a letter to inform you that you will receive a FIT aid, please contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request a FIT aid on 0800 707 60 60. If you haven’t been sent a FIT aid but feel you would like to try it to see if
it helps you to complete your test kit, please call the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
How will I know I am going to receive a FIT aid?
If you are due to receive a FIT aid, you will be sent an additional letter with your pre invitation letter. The letter will tell you that you will receive a FIT aid in the post either before or after you get your FIT kit. You will also be given information about how to request the instructions in a different format and opt out of receiving a FIT aid.
Will this change how I do my bowel cancer screening test?
You will still receive the FIT kit to complete your bowel cancer screening test, but you will also receive a FIT aid which has a stand and channel for you to place the FIT kit in and help you guide the sample stick into the FIT kit bottle.
I want to provide feedback about the FIT aid. Who should I contact?
Please contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline on 0800 707 60 60 to give feedback on the FIT aid and/or the instructions. All feedback is very welcome to help us improve the service we provide. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
Why can’t the FIT test bottle be made bigger and easier to use?
The analyser machine that is used to test the samples in the laboratory require the test bottles to be a particular size to fit in the machine. The neck of the bottle is small to avoid the liquid inside the bottle spilling out.
Can I request a FIT aid from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme?
If you have received your FIT kit and you think a FIT aid might help you to complete your screening kit, please contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request a FIT aid on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
How do I notify the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme that I need reasonable adjustments?
If you need reasonable adjustments to access NHS bowel cancer screening, you can have this added to your record for your current screening invitation and future invitations, by contacting the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
How do I request my invitation letter and results in an accessible format?
If you do not receive a letter in an accessible format, you can contact the free NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline to request an accessible version on 0800 707 60 60. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to contact us. Dial 18001 then 0800 707 60 60 from your textphone or the Relay UK app.
Can I request a FIT kit and FIT aid if I have symptoms?
If you are showing symptoms such as changes in poo, needing to poo more often, blood in poo and tummy pain, you should contact your GP immediately. If you are subsequently given a FIT kit, this would be a standard kit as the FIT Aids are only available for those people receiving a FIT kit via the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
How do I or someone I know access sight loss counselling services?
The RNIB has a Helpline as a first point of contact for anyone who seeks information or support about sight loss, products and services. This includes people with sight loss, their friends, family or carers.
People can call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.
More Information about the FIT aid?
The FIT aid is a tool that helps people complete their Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT kit). The FIT aid has a stand and a channel to guide the sample stick into the FIT bottle. The FIT aid is currently being tested by people who are blind or partially sighted and/or have manual dexterity challenges. The design may change following the in-service evaluation,
FIT aid accessible feature– Channel developed to enable sample to be guided into the FIT bottle
FIT aid accessible feature – Stand holds FIT tube steady to help those with manual dexterity challenges guide sample into FIT bottle
Why has the FIT aid been developed?
The FIT aid has been developed to help people who find it difficult to complete their bowel cancer screening test independently. The FIT aid has a stand and a channel making it easier for people to guide the sample stick into the FIT bottle.
Who is eligible for a FIT aid?
People eligible for a FIT aid are those who are due to be invited to complete their bowel cancer screening from May 2024 for 6 months. These people have registered that they need reasonable adjustments to complete their bowel cancer screening test because they are blind or partially sighted and/or have manual dexterity challenges.
How will this be communicated to those people who will receive a FIT aid?
The screening hubs will identify people who have registered that they require reasonable adjustments and they will receive an additional letter with their pre invitation letter informing them that they will receive a FIT aid in the post either before or after they receive their FIT kit. People will also be given information about how to request the instructions in a different format or opt out of receiving a FIT aid.
Did you consult with the blind and partially sighted community on this to ensure the community’s view were considered?
Throughout the design and development of the FIT aid and instruction we have worked in partnership with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Thomas Pocklington Trust who helped us test the design and instructions with a cohort of 30 people who were sent a FIT aid when completing their bowel cancer screening in September 2023. Feedback from the small cohort has been incorporated into the current evaluation.
What formats are the FIT aid instructions available in?
The FIT aid instructions are available in large print, audio CD, braille and email or text link to use with screen readers.
How many people will be sent a FIT aid during the trial period and how many people across England could benefit if it is rolled out?
There are currently approximately 900 people who are registered on the bowel cancer screening IT system as requiring reasonable adjustments because they have a sight impairment and approximately 40 who have manual dexterity challenges. These people notified the bowel cancer screening programme that they require an adjustment to be made. It is difficult to know when the people registered are due their screening kit, as people receive their kits every 2 years from when they last completed their last invitation. The programme can identify people who require an adjustment, when they are due a screening kit within the next 90 days if they have informed us of their reasonable adjustment required previously.
There are estimated to be more than two million people living with sight loss in the UK and it is estimated that by 2050 this will double to over four million. The FIT aid if rolled out may also be beneficial to other people, such as those with learning disabilities.
