New screening tests for visually impaired people
The Coalition’s Chief Executive Officer, Nikki tells us about her visit to the Bowel Cancer Screening Unit for Southern England to meet the Director of the hub about accessibility.
I was invited to visit the Bowel Cancer Screening Unit for Southern England by the Director of the hub.
The hub is a hive of activity, the helpline operates from the hub and it’s home to the laboratories where the testing of the samples take place. The hub covers the whole of Southern England but it’s located on our doorstep in Guildford, Surrey!
They had received 7 big post bags of samples the day that I was there and had taken more than 400 calls on the helpline. We talked about the impact of media stories on the number of calls they receive.
You may remember the recent story of the late Dame Deborah James, a lady in her late 30s diagnosed with bowel cancer that did lots to raise awareness of checking your poo! The media coverage she created had a huge impact on the number of calls the Bowel Cancer Screening Hub received!
New screening tests for visually impaired
Sally was excited to show me the result of some of the work that NHS England have been doing with the RNIB to improve access to testing for visually impaired people. They have introduced a new test, called a FIT aid that helps people that are visually impaired to complete the test. The test has Braille instructions on it and a piece of plastic with a groove running through it that will help visually impaired individuals to get the sample into the pot.
The FIT tests are brand new and they hadn’t received their batch of tests yet! They should arrive shortly. The Hub Director is keen to chat to some visually impaired people about the new kits so will be in touch with us again in the new year.
You don’t have to be visually impaired to request a new FIT aid kit
If the new screening kit would be helpful for you for another reason, for example, if you find it difficult to get the sample into the small sample pot, please do get in touch with the hub, they can help.
Introduction of SMS/Text
We also talked about introducing a SMS/text service for enquiries. They were keen to look into this, in fact they had already contacted a text provider before I had left the building.
Easy Read version now available
Sally also let me know that they have introduced Easy Read leaflets for people that would like them.
How do I get the new FIT aid Kit or an Easy Read leaflet?
Call the Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline 0800 707 6060 and they will register this for you.
No SMS/Text at the moment but as you will have read, we’re working on it!
