NHS England have provided an information sheet to explain the introduction of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). This replaced the guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBt) at the start of June.
The main benefit of the FIT is that it is easier to use; only one sample is required compared to gFOBt, which required three different ones. FIT is also more sensitive than gFOBt and therefore able to detect signs of cancer earlier.
The FIT briefing can be downloaded here.
In addition to FIT testing, one-off bowel scope screening is currently being rolled-out for 55-year-olds in London.
Programme managers for each screening centre will be able to provide more detail and up-to-date information on how far their respective scope screening roll-outs have progressed. Bowel screening centre contacts are as follows:
North East London
City and Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest
Saema Rangrez
0208 510 5311
North Central London
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington
Tom Smith
0203 447 5521
BHR
Redbridge (+ Havering and Barking and Dagenham)
Lynn Neeves
01708 435000 x 4718
North West London
Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon
Sarah Marshall
0208 869 2643 / 3543
West London
Ealing, Hounslow, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea
Belinda Johnston
0203 313 8996 ext: 38996
King’s
Lambeth and Southwark
Shonette Charles-Nurse
0203 299 7602
South East London
Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham
Tania Watson
0208 333 3000 (ext. 3106)
South West London
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth (+ Croydon, Kingston and Richmond)
Saidah Labadie
0208 725 0483
Last updated : 21 Aug 2019