It aims to save lives by detecting bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated.

The programme is being rolled out progressively throughout New Zealand, starting in July 2017.*

This is an invitation-based screening programme.

To be invited, you must be:

• aged 60 to 74 years
• eligible for publicly funded health care

The screening test is quick, clean and simple to do by yourself at home.

Bowel screening is for people who don’t have any symptoms of bowel cancer. If you have any bowel symptoms which concern you, please talk to your doctor straight away.

For further information go to timetoscreen.nz, free phone 0800 924 432, or talk to your doctor.

*The Waitemata District Health Board Bowel Screening Pilot ended in December 2017. From 2018, Waitemata DHB became part of the National Bowel Screening Programme, with people aged 60 to 74 invited to take part. Anyone who was invited to take part in the Pilot will continue to be invited for regular testing every two years. Click here for further information.