Essential information for bowel cancer screening referrals
Local GPs and other referring clinicians are asked to please be aware of the referral processes within Metro South Hospital and Health Services for people needing a referral for colonoscopy after a positive bowel screening test result.
As part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the Participant Follow Up Function (PFUF) team have investigated numerous cases where GPs have had referrals rejected.
For referrals to be successful, all necessary documentation needs to be attached.
Referral requirements
Referrals for colonoscopy at Metro South Referral Hub can only be accepted if they have the following (in addition to general referral information):
- patient and family history of bowel cancer e.g., relationship to patient, age at time of cancer diagnosis and type of cancer
- urea and electrolytes (U&E) test results
- history of previous endoscopic procedures (date, report, and histology)
Important: For National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) patients with positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) results, include both NBCSP pathology report and ID number.
If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly stated in the body of the referral.
National Bowel Cancer Screening results need to be downloaded in full (participants letters are not accepted).
If you need these results resent, please contact Sonic Pathology on 1800 957 177.
More information
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More information, including minimum referral criteria and standard criteria information is available on the Metro South Health website: www.metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/referrals/gastroenterology/bowel-screening
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Bowel cancer screening information, including guidance on assessment, management, referral requests and links to patient information can be found on the Brisbane South HealthPathways portal.
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Our General Practice Quality Improvement team can support general practices improve the bowel screening rates for patients. Contact the team on 3864 7540 or email support@bsphn.org.au,