Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in NSW, yet only 35% of people in Central and Eastern Sydney PHN participated in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) in 2023. Encouragement and guidance from Primary Care has shown to increase participation and ensure timely screening.

This event will demonstrate how to approach bowel cancer screening from a Quality Improvement (QI) perspective, enabling practices to identify small, actionable steps to improve screening rates and data quality over time.

Presented by:

Ruby van Kool, CESPHN Cancer Prevention and Control Program Officer

Linda Silver, CESPHN Digital Health and QI Program Officer

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the key functions of the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) and how it supports screening participation, patient follow-up and data management.
• Identify under-screened or never-screened patients who are eligible for bowel cancer screening using a clinical audit tool.
• Implement effective recall and reminder systems to increase patient engagement and improve bowel cancer screening rates.
• Recognise common data limitations in recording family history and colonoscopy, and how improving data quality can enhance screening recommendations.

Target Audience: GPs, nurses, and practice staff.

*Please note GP Registrars who wish to register for CPD events and do not have a member number will need to contact the CPD Department on 1300 986 991