Bowel screening standards
Document Type
Standards
Summary
Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is a significant public health concern in Scotland. Around 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. It is the third most common cancer in Scotland.
Bowel cancer is more common in men though uptake of screening is higher in women. Nine out of ten people survive bowel cancer if found early and treated.
We have developed standards to support bowel screening services in Scotland.
These standards draw on current evidence, best practice and stakeholder recommendations.
Overview of standards
Standard 1: All eligible people are invited for bowel screening once every two years.
Standard 2: The Scottish Bowel Screening Centre ensures that the bowel screening laboratory service and processes are carried out in line with nationally required recognised standards.
Standard 3: The Scottish Bowel Screening Centre ensures that every bowel screening test result is accurate and reported in a timely manner.
Standard 4: NHS boards ensure people with a positive bowel screening result are offered a high quality, timely and person-centred pre-investigation assessment.
Standard 5: NHS boards ensure high quality, safe and timely diagnostic investigation is available following a positive bowel screening result.
Standard 6: NHS boards ensure histopathology for bowel screening is carried out in line with national standards.