Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 2:28 pm on 15 June 2016.
Thank you for that, although, Minister, I think you and I both know where we are on this. The rates are falling and we need to make people more responsible for their own health. My question was actually what can you do to encourage people to have this screening test. So, if we move to bowel cancer, which you’ve already alluded to, one of the ideas is that, here, for example, in Wales, bowel cancer screening is currently undertaken every two years for those between 60 and 74; Scotland undertake this screening from 50; and England is currently introducing a second bowel scope screening, which is proven to reduce the risks of individuals developing bowel cancer by 33 per cent, and Scotland also intend to trial this. So, again, Minister, on another type of cancer, I ask you: why should those who have the highest risk of bowel cancer have a lower chance of an early diagnosis here in Wales? You and I both know we all have to take responsibility for our health, but what can you as a Government do to improve the screening rates for both cervical cancer and bowel cancer?