National Bowel Screening Programme roll out about to reach halfway mark

It's a busy time on the National Bowel Screening Programme with the nationwide roll out of the programme ramping up.

As announced by Health Minister David Clark, Whanganui is the latest DHB to join the programme and MidCentral is expected to go live on 12 November. This will mean that 10 out of the country's 20 DHBs will be offering bowel screening to almost half the eligible population.

Programme Director Stephanie Chapman says the team is excited to be reaching such a significant milestone. "With ten DHBs on board, more than 360,000 New Zealanders, aged 60-74, will be able to access potentially life-saving bowel screening. That makes us feel we’re contributing to a very significant health intervention.

The Ministry’s NBSP team has also been meeting with DHBs yet to join the programme. Pictured below in Taranaki (L-R) Jackie Sewell (TDHB), Stephanie Chapman, Jeanette Shaw (TDHB), Dr Ralph Van Dalen (Midland Region Clinical Lead), NBSP Clinical Lead Dr Susan Parry and GP lead Dr John McMenamin.