Bowel cancer screening: escalation process for non-submission of evidence
Updated 3 July 2024
The screening service should provide evidence to the screening quality assurance service (SQAS) at least 10 weeks before the QA visit date.
SQAS should follow the escalation process below if evidence has not been provided by 9 weeks before the visit. The process is described below in text format and as an illustration.
1. Send reminder to programme manager
SQAS sends reminder to programme manager 9 weeks before QA visit date.
2. Is evidence received by 8 weeks minus one day before visit?
Yes: Evidence received and used at QA visit. End of pathway
No: Send second reminder to programme manager at 8 weeks minus one day before visit date. Contact programme by phone and follow up by email, giving an absolute deadline of responding within 7 calendar days at 9 weeks minus one day before visit date.
Inform director of bowel screening/hub director of this new deadline. Go to question 3.
3. Is evidence received by 7 weeks minus 2 days before visit?
Yes: Evidence received and used at QA visit. End of pathway.
No: If proforma or outstanding evidence is not received by the absolute deadline, SQAS should inform the director of bowel screening/hub director within 48 hours of the missed deadline.
Make an immediate recommendation at the QA visit that the programme should provide the outstanding information, or confirmation it does not exist within 7 days, along with an agreed date for discussion with SQAS. End of pathway.