National Bowel Screening Programme restart underway

The National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) restart is beginning with asking people who received a bowel screening test kit in the mail just before or during the COVID-19 Level 4 lock down to complete their kit and send it back. 

NBSP Clinical Director Dr Susan Parry says about 29,000 people were sent letters reminding them to return, complete or repeat a test kit while the bowel screening programme was paused during the COVID-19 response. However, these letters also advised participants to hold off sending their bowel screening test kit back until the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

‘The kits have a six month expiry date so we’re chasing those still outstanding and asking people to complete them and send them back as soon as possible if they have not already done so. 

This is important because these tests can help detect early bowel cancers and they really do save lives. At this time of heightened awareness, this is a positive and proactive thing people can do for their health.'

Read the full story here: https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/national-bowel-screening-programme-restart-underway