National Bowel Screening Programme
Introduction
The National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) here in Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty would like to thank all of those that are helping get people into the programme. NBSP is saving lives and by talking to
April 2023
patients about screening, making referrals, giving people information about the programme or simply putting a NBSP poster up in your waiting area you are having a direct and positive impact.
Participation Nationally
Overall: 57%
Participation in Hauora a Toi
Overall:
56.8%
50,338 Kits sent
27,280 Kits returned
78 Cancers Detected: 8 Māori, 1 Pacific.
1159 positive FITS
203 Māori and 5 Pacific
Completed
942 colonoscopies
HOT TIP
if you would like to speak with someone from the Bay of Plenty NBSP team about anything related to Bowel Screening you can contact us directly on 0800 531 288, rather than calling the national line. Feel free to give this number to your patients if they have any questions about Bowel Screening.
Māori: 48% Māori: 43% Pacific: 37% Pacific: 43%
National Bowel Screening Programme
What the NBSP team have been doing in March 2024.
Last week we were in Katikati talking to the GP practices, the Katikati Community Centre and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariuam, Kaupapa Māori Health Care Services in Katikati. We also visited local businesses and arranged a postal FIT kit campaign for the Katikati post code.
We attended the Katikati Family Picnic (pictures below), the Golden oldies Club and Seeka and Apata. If you would like us to run a similar initiative in your area, please get in touch.
NBSP Team
Brighid McPherson NBSP Clinical Nurse Specialist Bay of Plenty
Why did you decide to work within the Bowel Screening programme?
Self interest mainly. My uncle died of Bowel Cancer in his early 50s and my grandmother died of bowel cancer in her early 60s.
How do you find working in the programme?
It is great to work in a very well-designed programme, with well thought out structures and in-built fail safes to ensure no-one is lost to follow up.
What would you change?
Now we are a national program I would like to see a more co-ordinated approach. The positive FIT’s reliability and specificity is higher than I had at first thought it would be.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Family get togethers, tramping, running. I have had dogs for over 20 years, recently I succumbed and bought a puppy, Princess Paddy.
Pictured above Chrissie Paul Kaihautū BOP NBSP and Brighid McPherson CNS BOP NBSP and the star of the show Colin the Colon 6Mx 4M x3M.
