DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
1999/0116                                      Tuesday 2nd March 1999
 
    TESSA JOWELL ANNOUNCES COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING PILOT SITES
 
The English site for the pilot study to evaluate a screening 
programme for colorectal cancer was announced today by Tessa Jowell, 
Minister for Public Health.
 
Ms Jowell said:
 
"I am very pleased to announce that the pilot site for colorectal 
cancer screening in England will be in Coventry and Warwickshire. My 
colleague Sam Galbraith, Scottish Health Minister, also announced 
today that the Scottish pilot site will be in Tayside, Grampian and 
Fife.  This is an exciting and groundbreaking scheme and will be the 
first programme of its kind in Europe.
 
" About 20,000 people a year die from colorectal cancer and many of 
them could have been saved if their cancer had been found earlier.  
Many people suffer in silence, too embarrassed to tell their partners
or even their doctors.  But, if it is caught early, colorectal cancer
is one of the most curable of all cancers.  I therefore urge the 
people in Coventry and Warwickshire to take part in the pilots when 
they are invited.  Their support could make a big difference in how 
effectively we tackle this disease in the future.
 
"Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in this country. 
We have already made an extra #10 million available for faster access
to diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.  Screening may be 
another way to help improve people's chance of surviving this 
terrible disease."
 
David Loughton, the Chief Executive of the Walsgrave Hospitals NHS 
Trust in Coventry, which provides the cancer centre for the project, 
said:
 
"I am delighted we have been chosen as the pilot site. Staff have 
been working together across three Trusts and two Health Authorities 
to make this a success.  Our partnership and ability to work well 
together have helped us secure this project.
 
"We will be asking thousands of people across the area to help with 
this research - it could save your life and provide information in 
the fight to save others."
 
The practical knowledge gained from the pilots will be crucial to 
informing the National Screening Committee's consideration of the 
feasibility of a national approach.  The projects will cost about #5 
million and run for over two years.
 
NOTES FOR EDITORS
 
1. The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) includes the all UK 
CMOs, professionals & experts, members from public health, external 
research organisations, media and consumer representative 
organisations. It considers clinical evidence on population screening
from research programmes and makes recommendations to Health 
Ministers about:
 
 The case for implementing new population screening programmes not 
presently purchased by the NHS within each of the countries in the UK
Screening technologies of proven effectiveness but  which require 
controlled and well-managed introduction.  The case for continuing, 
modifying or withdrawing existing population screening  programmes.  
In particular, programmes  inadequately evaluated or of doubtful 
effectiveness, quality, or value.
 
2. Faecal Occult Blood Test kit will be sent directly to homes with 
instructions for use, together with an background information about 
the test and follow up. A small sample of faeces is given and can 
then be sent to the laboratory for testing. People can, of course, go
to their GP practice for help and advice, if they wish. At the 
laboratory test is then undertaken for blood in the faeces. It is not
a definitive test for cancer. Positive tests require a speedy 
follow-up: some people might be asked to submit a second sample after
following a restricted diet for a few days, to ensure that the test 
result was accurate; others might be invited for a follow-up 
diagnostic test - a colonoscopy or a double contrast barium enema 
together with a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This will be able tell if 
pre-cancerous cells or polyps are present and what treatment might be
required.
 
3. The chosen site at Coventry and Warwickshire comprises to two 
Health Authorities: Coventry and Warwickshire; and three NHS Trusts: 
Walsgrave Hospitals Trust, where the cancer centre is based, George 
Elliot Trust and South Warwickshire General Hospitals Trust.
 
4.  Mrs Jowell accepted advice from an advisory panel of leading 
specialist practitioners from NHS and patient representative groups, 
the Crocus Trust and Colon Cancer Concern. The panel considered a 
shortlist of five sites and judged that Coventry & Warwickshire, and 
Tayside were best placed to provide a pilot service which would 
address the practical challenges of establishing a new NHS screening 
programme.  Work is starting now to prepare local services for 
delivering this two year local programme.
 
5. It is intended that the screening centre in the pilot site will 
offer a freephone advice service similar to that being developed 
through NHS Direct. Callers will receive clear advice about the 
service being offered and whether they might take part. Although they
won't receive an invitation those over 69 can contact the advice line
to receive a testing kit if they wish to participate in the pilot.  
The pilots will be developed with a strong commitment to involving 
the local community and raising of awareness of the disease more 
broadly.
 
6.  A single evaluation project will review the results and report to
the National Screening Committee in 2001/2.
 
7.  There are over 30,000 new cases a year of this cancer. Ninety 
three percent of deaths occur in people over 55, incidence increases 
with age and there is a lifetime risk of 1 in 25.
 
                                [ENDS]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
# = pounds sterling





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