GP endorsement letter – Help increase cancer screening participation in your practice
There is one evidence- based initiative which is the use of a GP endorsement letter. This is a letter that is sent out from the GP practice to the eligible population, before their 50th birthday, that is essentially, a recommendation from the practice GPs that the patient participate in the bowel screening program when the kit arrives.
- Click here for letter template. This could be sent as an email or letter. The NBCSP would consider formatting a SMS message, if this would be useful for your practice please email l.walker@cesphn.com.au
45-49-year-old health check (MBS item)
As has been recommended by the NBCSP and the Cancer Institute, this health check could be the perfect opportunity to discuss bowel cancer screening (which is not mentioned on some of the software templates for this health check and could be added) or at least to hand out a resource to improve health literacy around cancer screening programs before the age of 50 years.
Rapid Assessment for FOBT +ve Patients with Streamline to St George Hospital Public Colonoscopy Lists
This new service improves the timeliness of colonoscopies for patients with positive FOBT. This will be done by getting fast access to the colonoscopy lists for patients in the public hospital, using a telephone Nurse-Led clinic model. The CNC will liaise with Gastroenterologists on your behalf to facilitate quick response for your patients, with the CNC your first point of call if you have any concerns.
Advantages:
- Reduced wait time between a +ve FOBT and outpatient colonoscopy within the public hospital setting.
- Streamlined, fast effective access to colonoscopies for outpatients.
Suitable referrals:
- Direct referrals from GP’s of asymptomatic +ve FOBT patients OR
- Patients who have had previous cancer or polyp resections, and are due for their follow-up colonoscopies.
Please contact: Sarah Rolls (Gastro CNC) Ph: 9113-2194 Fax: 9113-1290 or FAST TRACK REFERRAL FORM available here (283 KB)