Changes to Bowel Cancer Screening in England
Posted on in Medical Negligence
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial time to raise awareness of such a serious health condition that affects millions of people around the world.
Bowel cancer can be difficult to detect in its early stages. An important step forward in early detection has recently been introduced. Starting in February 2026, the trigger threshold for further investigation in bowel cancer screening using the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) will be lowered.
It is hoped that with this change, more potential cases can be identified earlier, improving the chances of successful treatment.
What is a FIT?
Bowel cancer can be tested for at home by using a FIT. This is a simple screening test used to help detect early signs of bowel cancer, often before noticeable symptoms develop.
The kit is sent to a person’s home, where they collect a small sample of stool using the equipment provided and return it to a laboratory for analysis.
It works by analysing the level of blood in a person’s faeces. People whose level of blood in their poo is above a certain threshold are then referred for further tests to investigate.
Because the FIT is quick and can be completed at home, it plays an important role in identifying potential cases of bowel cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
What is Changing?
The change lowers the level that triggers further investigation from 120 micrograms of blood per gram of faeces down to 80 micrograms, meaning that smaller amounts of blood in a stool sample will prompt a referral for further testing.
This lowers the threshold for referrals by a third, bringing England in line with Wales and Scotland.
When are the Guidelines Changing?
The reduction in the referral threshold is being introduced gradually through a phased roll-out across the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Selected areas in England, known as early adopter sites, began implementing the lower FIT threshold in February 2026.
The aim is for all screening services in England to adopt the new threshold, with full national implementation expected by March 2028.
What is the Impact?
The change to a lower FIT threshold is expected to influence early detection and prevention of bowel cancer, increase survival rates, as well as the workload of screening services:
- Early Detection: the NHS estimates the change could help detect around 600 more bowel cancers early each year in England, which is around an 11% increase.
- Prevention: it should mean that more people with high-risk polyps will be detected, giving doctors the chance to remove these before they have the chance to develop into cancer.
- Survival Rates: it is expected to reduce late-stage diagnoses and deaths from bowel cancer in England by around 6%.
- Service Demand: it is estimated that around 35% more screening colonoscopies will be offered each year to help diagnose or rule out bowel cancer.
Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “Testing at a lower threshold will now provide a better early-warning system for bowel cancer, helping us to spot and treat cancers earlier, often picking up problems before symptoms appear… Earlier detection can mean less intensive treatment and ensures the best chance of survival...”
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “This is great news for people living in England. This change marks an important moment for bowel cancer screening in the country... Increasing the sensitivity of the test means more cancers will be prevented and found earlier, saving more lives from the UK’s fourth most common cancer.”
How We Can Help
The change represents a proactive step towards improving early diagnosis and aligning screening standards across the UK. It is very positive news, as detecting cancer earlier can save lives and reduce the number of late-stage diagnoses.
However, careful planning will be needed to manage the expected increase in demand for diagnostic services.
If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment, a missed diagnosis or problems linked to cancer treatment, please do not hesitate to reach out to our specialist medical negligence team to discuss whether a legal claim can be pursued.
Our team of specialist solicitors can guide you through whether you may have a claim, the steps to getting answers about your treatment, and ultimately obtaining the compensation you may be entitled to.