The charity Bowel Cancer UK has expressed its concern at the results of a new report published by Cancer Research UK which highlights major issues with NHS Services in England for diagnostic tests for bowel cancer patients.

The key diagnostic tests are colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies.

These tests can detect cancer at the earliest stage of the disease, when it is more treatable, as well as prevent cancer through the removal of polyps during the procedure.

Nine out of ten people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed in the earliest stages.

That’s why it is crucial that people have timely access to high quality diagnostic tests.

Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK said, “This report has highlighted yet again the serious issues with endoscopy services in England, with not just rising demand but also  varying quality in services and waiting times being the key problems.”

“It’s an issue which we’ve been campaigning about for years, to improve the treatment of bowel cancer patients.  Both our 2012 report, ‘Increasing capacity, saving lives’, and more recently our 2014 report, ‘Diagnosing bowel cancer early: Right test, right time’, highlighted the need for significant increases in capacity and investment.”

“Demand for endoscopy services has been increasing since the introduction of the bowel cancer screening programme and, with the introduction of a new and more accurate screening test, this is set to increase further. An ageing population and increased awareness of symptoms will also contribute to higher demand. There is an urgent need to ensure that units have the capacity needed to meet that demand and to ensure that patients are not waiting longer than the recommended waiting time target.  This is essential if more people are to be diagnosed early.”

Source: Bowel Cancer UK