FOI – 2025-000201 Scottish Bowel Screening Programme (HTML)

Date received – 04 July 2025 | Date responded – 22 July 2025

Request

Why Scotland are not being pro-active in providing another option for participants like herself? What steps are we taking for future?

Why there are different kits within the UK?

Why the supplier chosen in Scotland are not making any moves to provide a more inclusive kit? Hard to believe that a commercial decision (cost) is put above participants health.

How many blind/visually impaired people are missing out on Screening?

How many participants have been affected by bowel disease and/or cancer because of the above?

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 04 July 2025 requesting the following information.

We have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

Why Scotland are not being pro-active in providing another option for participants like herself? What steps are we taking for future?

The Scottish Bowel Screening Programme is nearing the end of its current contract for the existing testing kit. A procurement process is currently underway to secure a like-for-like replacement. Looking ahead, future procurement exercises will consider enhancements to the service, including options such as pre-labelled testing kits to improve accessibility and ease of use.

Why there are different kits within the UK?

Healthcare is a devolved matter within the UK. As such, the Scottish Government is responsible for NHS services in Scotland, including procurement decisions. This means that procurement processes and resulting contracts may differ from those in other parts of the UK, such as England.

Why the supplier chosen in Scotland are not making any moves to provide a more inclusive kit? Hard to believe that a commercial decision (cost) is put above participants health.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) were consulted during the previous procurement process and assessed the accessibility of the current kit. This contract is now coming to the end of term, and a tender has gone out to procure a new contract. The RNIB will again be consulted to ensure accessibility remains a key consideration.

While cost is one of several factors considered during procurement, it is not the sole determinant. Bids are evaluated against a comprehensive specification, which includes accessibility requirements. The aim is to ensure that the selected supplier can deliver a high-quality, inclusive service.

How many blind/visually impaired people are missing out on Screening?

Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 (FOISA), an organisation is not required to provide information if it does not hold it. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does not hold the requested information. Unfortunately, the current IT system does not capture information on participants’ visual impairment status.

How many participants have been affected by bowel disease and/or cancer because of the above?

Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 (FOISA), an organisation is not required to provide information if it does not hold it. NSS does not hold the requested information as per answer above.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request, you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information, please contact the Associate Director Governance and Board Services (Board Secretary) within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Address

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.