Bowel screening age range extended to 58

Free bowel screening through the National Bowel Screening Programme is now available from age 58 to 74 across most of Aotearoa New Zealand, down from the previous starting age of 60.

Te Manawa Taki region joined Northern and Te Waipounamu regions in offering the earlier starting age this week. MidCentral District will follow in the coming months.

Lowering the starting age means around 100,000 more people will become eligible for screening in the first year alone.

What this means for eligible patients

People who are 58 or 59, or who are turning 58, don't need to do anything. They'll receive their bowel screening kit in the mail around their next birthday, or be contacted by a local health provider.

How general practice can support the rollout

Practice management systems have been updated, or will be shortly, to reflect the new age range. Updated bowel screening resources may be supplied by your local district bowel screening team, or you can order them directly at no cost from the HealthEd website.

When seeing patients, please take the opportunity to do the following.

• Confirm their ethnicity and contact details are recorded accurately.
• Check whether eligible patients have completed their two-yearly bowel screening. If not, a kit can be ordered through your PMS, by emailing info@bowelscreening.health.nz, or by calling 0800 924 432.
• Request replacement kits for patients whose kits have been lost, damaged, or expired.

More information

Visit Te Whatu Ora's website, call the National Bowel Screening Programme on 0800 924 432, or email info@bowelscreening.health.nz.