Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
a new permanent GP will begin; and (iii) when the local community can expect a new permanent GP to
take up the post.
(AQW 13535/11-15)
Mr Poots:
(i) The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) convened a group consisting of members of the HSCB,
the Local Medical Committee, the Local Commissioning Group and the Patient and Client Council
on 7th June 2012 to address issues around the running of the Ederney Practice in the short term
and to assist in the long term future of the Practice.
(ii) A recruitment process has commenced following agreement at the meeting on 7th June.
(iii) It is anticipated that a new permanent GP would take up post in autumn 2012.
Service Framework for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Care
Mr McCarthy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) whether the Service
Frameworks Programme Board has approved the implementation plan for the Service Framework for
Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Care; and (ii) when the updated Framework will be published on his
Department’s website.
(AQW 13537/11-15)
Mr Poots: The implementation plan for the Service Framework for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and
Care was considered by the Service Frameworks Programme Board, chaired by the Chief Medical
Officer, in March 2012.
While significant progress had been made in the implementation of the Framework, a number of
Key Performance Indicators still required baseline auditing. It was agreed therefore that further
development of the plan was warranted and a revised Implementation Plan should be developed and
submitted to the Service Frameworks Programme Board at its September 2012 meeting. It is expected
that an updated version of the Framework will be published on my Department’s website thereafter.
Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
Mr McCarthy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what consideration
has been given to further developments in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, including (i)
the extension of the upper-age range; (ii) the incorporation of flexible sigmoidoscopy; and (iii) the
replacement of the current fecal occult blood test with the Fecal Immunochemical Test.
(AQW 13538/11-15)
Mr Poots:
(i) The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, when launched in 2010, was offered to eligible men and
women aged 60-69. In April 2012 it was extended to include men and women aged 60-71. The
Programme for Government 2011-15, includes a commitment to extend the age range for bowel
cancer screening up to age 74 across all Trust areas from April 2014.
(ii) The Advisory Committee on Bowel Cancer Screening in England is currently establishing a flexible
sigmoidoscopy pilot. The pilot is expected to commence in winter/early spring 2013 and will
test the IT system in terms of supporting the programme and consider staffing models for future
roll out. I will await the outcome of this pilot before making a decision on introducing flexible
sigmoidoscopy to the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
(iii) In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales the faecal occult blood test (FOBt) is sent to
individuals to complete at home. Those who receive an ‘unclear’ result are then sent a faecal
immunochemical test (FIT) to complete.
There have been concerns about the stability of some FIT tests and work is ongoing to improve
reliability. The Advisory Committee for Bowel Cancer Screening is planning to pilot the FIT test as the
primary screening test in 2014/2015. I will await the outcome of this pilot before making a decision to
replace the FOBt.
WA 555