National Bowel Screening Programme – age extension

The National Bowel Screening Programme has commenced the next phase of the age extension programme and has lowered the starting age to 56 in eight districts: Waitematā, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Wairarapa, West Coast and South Canterbury. Remaining districts will follow.

Eligible people (aged 56 or 57) will receive a free screening kit by mail or contacted by a local provider around their next birthday, then every two years until age 75. Your PMS will be updated to reflect the new age range. When seeing patients, please take the opportunity to:

• confirm ethnicity and contact details are recorded accurately

• check eligible patients have completed their two-yearly screening

• order kits through your PMS, by emailing info@bowelscreening.health.nz or calling 0800 924 432

• request replacement kits for patients with lost, damaged or expired kits.

For more information visit the Health NZ website or contact 0800 924 432.