Committee for Health & Social Care - P.2017/51
The States are asked to decide:-
Whether, after consideration of the Policy Letter entitled 'Bowel Cancer Screening', 19 April 2017, they are of the opinion:-
1. To affirm the policy objective of the Committee forHealth & Social Care, that there should be a long-term programme of population-based screening for bowel cancer in Guernsey and Alderney, with the aim of prevention and early detection of disease, in order to reduce bowel cancer-related morbidity and mortality, using methods that are based on reliable scientific evidence.
2. To agree that the Committee for Health & Social Care, in accordance with its mandate to "develop and implement policies on matters relating to its purpose, including: [...] the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases, illnesses and conditions; [... and] public health" and its general responsibility "to ensure that public funds and other resources are used to best advantage", may, from time to time, vary the method of screening, the demographic targeted for screening, or the frequency of repeat screenings, without reverting to the States for authorisation; provided always that such changes are based on reliable clinical evidence, have regard to the ring-fenced budget available for the service, and continue to achieve the policy objective as set out in Proposition 1 above.
3. To rescind their Resolutions of 10th December 2015, which were -
1. To offer bowel cancer screening using a flexible sigmoidoscope to all Guernsey residents as they become 60 years of age and 65 years of age.
2. To offer bowel cancer screening using a flexible sigmoidoscope to any Guernsey resident who is between the age of 60 and 65 years of age who has not been screened.
3. To offer screening for bowel cancer using a flexible sigmoidoscope to any Guernsey resident who has a familial history of bowel cancer, as defined by the British Society of Gastroenterology.
4. To note the intention of the Committee for Health & Social Care to introduce the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) for bowel cancer screening for Guernsey and Alderney residents aged from 60 to 70 years old, as set out in this policy letter; with additional screening, as appropriate, for people in higher-risk groups, including people with a family history of bowel cancer.
5. To note the intention of the Committee for Health & Social Care to undertake a review of its full range of population-based screening programmes to ensure their effectiveness, acceptability and accessibility to the target population.
The above Propositions have been submitted to Her Majesty's Procureur for advice on any legal or constitutional implications in accordance with Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees.
