Bowel Cancer Screening

The Bowel Cancer Screening Service at The Prince Charles Hospital is part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Our services

Bowel Cancer Screening Pre-assessment Clinic

At this appointment, a specialist gastroenterology nurse will talk to you about the colonoscopy procedure to ensure that it is the correct test for you, and to gain your written consent. You must attend this appointment to be booked in for a colonoscopy procedure. If appropriate you will be given a preparation kit with procedure instructions and bowel preparation.

Day procedure colonoscopy

You will be booked in for a colonoscopy procedure once you attend your pre-procedure appointment at the Bowel Cancer Screening Pre-assessment Clinic. In rare cases you may be admitted to hospital for a colonoscopy.

How to access this service

After completing the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Stool Test (faecal occult blood test), if you receive a positive result, your GP may refer you to this service.

GP or medical practitioner referral

To access this service, your GP or medical practitioner will need to send a referral letter to the hospital. Once the hospital has received the referral, you will be offered an appointment in the Bowel Cancer Screening Pre-assessment Clinic.

Confirming your appointment

Once you have received your appointment letter, you will need to call or email the clinic to confirm your appointment. If you do not confirm your appointment, it may be offered to another patient who is on the waiting list. Please advise us if you have received treatment elsewhere in relation to your faecal occult blood test result.

Declining or changing your appointment

If you are unable to attend your allocated appointment, please contact the clinic to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Patients who decline the offer of an appointment date on two occasions will be considered to have declined treatment. A patient will be removed from the Endoscopy Service waiting list if they decline a second appointment date or fail to arrive for a second confirmed appointment date.

Please make sure you tell the hospital of any changes to your contact details including current home address and phone/mobile numbers.

Before your procedure

You can watch the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy educational video about your planned colonoscopy procedure. This video will also be shown at your Pre-procedure Clinic appointment. Please inform reception if you have already watched it.

Your appointment and procedure

Parking

For patients attending an outpatient appointment, parking is available in the multi-storey car park at the main hospital entrance. From here, allow 10-20 minutes to walk to the Endoscopy unit. Alternatively, you may wish to be dropped off at the undercover set-down and pick-up area adjacent to the Endoscopy Unit. Mobility assistance is available on request. Find more information on alternative parking and transport options.

Arrival

Please arrive at the time indicated on your appointment letter. When you arrive, visit the reception desk to check in. Our volunteer staff can assist you if you have any questions.

For the day of your procedure, you can request a medical certificate and/or a carer’s certificate . If you require a certificate for more days, please consult your GP. If you are seeking travel reimbursement through the patient travel subsidy scheme, you will need to bring this document with you.

Appointment and procedure duration

Please allow 3-4 hours for your procedure and extra time for travel. For a clinic appointment allow a maximum of 1 hour. While we aim to keep appointments running on time, some unavoidable delays can change your appointment time. If you believe you have been waiting for too long, please notify the receptionist or nursing staff.

Interpreter Services

If English is not your first language, interpreter services are available for clinics and procedures.

What to bring

Clinics