Participant Follow-up Officers

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) writes to participants to remind them to attend for their follow-up as a safety-net function. In addition, Participant Follow-up Function (PFUF) Officers support NBCSP participants who have received a positive screening result. Their role is to telephone participants to check on their progress and encourage them to follow-up their result. The information provided updates the National Cancer Screening Registry (NCSR) to ensure screening records are current.

The information accessed by PFUF officers on the NCSR is strictly confidential and protected by legislation. Only the participant (or their nominated personal representative or nominated healthcare provider) will be contacted to ensure privacy is maintained. When contacted, participants will be asked to answer identifying questions (for example, their date of birth) to make sure the officer is speaking with the correct person.

The PFUF team also check with health professionals (GPs/specialists) to validate information, update the NCSR, and ensure screening records are complete and current.