We have updated our BowelScreen charter.
It tells you:
- what you can expect when you take part in our BowelScreen programme
- how we aim to give you a safe, high-quality and person-centred service in a timely manner
- how you can help us make our services work better for you and for others.
What we did
We worked with people who use our screening service and our staff to develop the charter.
In reviewing our charter we aimed to:
- explain how the programme works and the high standards we maintain
- strengthen trust in bowel screening so people can feel confident to take part
- communicate about our commitment to listen and learn from you
- make people reading our charter feel welcome and supported by our staff.
We wrote the charter in plain language.
We aligned information in the charter with our quality assurance standards and the 8 principles of the National Healthcare Charter, which are:
- access
- dignity and respect
- safe and effective services
- communications and information
- participation
- privacy
- improving health
- accountability.
Who we worked with
The charter development group was led by our BowelScreen team and included:
- our communications team
- public health consultants
- our GP clinical advisor
- our behavioural scientist
- information governance team
- Patient and Public Partnership (PPP).
They helped us to make sure that our information is accurate and consistent.
Our PPP members shared their experiences of taking part in BowelScreen and helped us focus the charter on the needs of our screening participants.
When they reviewed the charter they said:
- they found the words and phrases easy to read and felt that the charter will help people taking part in bowel screening
- they liked the use of a QR code that links directly to our BowelScreen registration page
- to include messages on things that are important to people using our services including how bowel screening can save lives and other benefits to taking part.
Next steps
We have now published our BowelScreen charter in English and Irish.
We will display it at our BowelScreen programme offices and at colonoscopy units. Our teams will use it to answer questions through our feedback channels, including our info@ email address, call centre and Your Service Your Say.
We will continue to work to uphold our charter and will publish it in our programme reports as our statement of purpose.