'Cases of bowel cancer here are too few to form analysis'

LOCAL data is not robust enough to demonstrate how much money a bowel cancer screening programme could save long-term, according to Health and Social Services.

Former HSSD member Mike Hadley (pictured) asked the department to provide financial information on current treatment costs, some of which he believed could be recouped in future if a screening programme was introduced.

Nonetheless, in answering Deputy Hadley's questions, the minister revealed that a significant amount of money had already been spent on treating the 35 islanders who are thought to be diagnosed each year.

Money spent on drugs for bowel cancer patients from November 2009 to October 2010 was £190,000 and the cost of radiotherapy, including travel to the UK, totalled £55,000 a year.

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