What plans does the Welsh Government have to ensure that capacity in endoscopy services will be able to meet demand following the introduction of the new FIT for bowel screening test?
Public Health Wales (PHW) NHS Trust is working with health boards to prepare for the introduction of the new Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) into the Bowel Screening Wales programme from January 2019. A nationally directed approach is being brought into place to support health boards to plan for the endoscopy capacity that will permit a phased decrease in the sensitivity threshold for FIT and a widening of the eligible age range. PHW is also modelling how this can be done safely and sustainably. This issue was discussed in detail at the NHS Executive Board last week and will be on the agenda of the next meeting of the Wales Screening Committee in November.