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Responses > Straight to Test (STT) Colonoscopy

Freedom of Information request Straight to Test (STT) Colonoscopy

Response published: 27 November 2025
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FOI Request

Dear FOI Team, I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please provide data for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, unless otherwise specified. Straight to Test (STT) Colonoscopy Does the Trust provide Straight to Test (STT) colonoscopy services for the suspected cancer referral pathway? If STT, are they spoken to first in a clinic appointment or are they sent straight to colonoscopy without discussion? Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) Pathway Does the Trust have a specific iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) Faster Diagnostic Pathway (FDP)? If not, please confirm which pathway IDA patients are referred to (e.g., Lower GI, Upper GI, Gastroenterology, or Colorectal). If yes, which speciality manages this? Number of referrals to the IDA pathway (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024) Number of colorectal cancers diagnosed via the IDA pathway (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024). Number of IDA pathway patients seen by the Colorectal team (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024) Number of IDA pathway patients seen by the Gastroenterology team (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024) Do patients with IDA with positive FIT go to the IDA pathway or the lower GI pathway? Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway Total number of Lower GI suspected cancer referrals (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024). Number of cancers diagnosed on the Lower GI suspected cancer referral pathway, categorised by site-specific cancer, including (but not limited to): Colorectal Small bowel NTE (Neuroendocrine) Gastric Oesophageal Any other relevant categories Colorectal Surgery Activity Total number of referrals to Colorectal Surgery (not including lower GI cancer referrals) (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024). Average waiting time for a Lower GI 2-week-wait (2WW) referral to first appointment. Average waiting time for an urgent outpatient referral to Colorectal Surgery. Average waiting time for a non-urgent outpatient referral to Colorectal Surgery. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) How many patients were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through the Lower GI Faster Diagnostic Pathway? If any of the requested information is not held, please confirm this. I would be grateful if the data could be provided in electronic format. Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your response within the statutory FOI timeframe. Kind regards

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: GHC-25112025-109759

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

Please provide data for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, unless otherwise specified. Straight to Test (STT) Colonoscopy Does the Trust provide Straight to Test (STT) colonoscopy services for the suspected cancer referral pathway? If STT, are they spoken to first in a clinic appointment or are they sent straight to colonoscopy without discussion?

Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) Pathway Does the Trust have a specific iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) Faster Diagnostic Pathway (FDP)?

If not, please confirm which pathway IDA patients are referred to (e.g., Lower GI, Upper GI, Gastroenterology, or Colorectal). If yes, which speciality manages this? Number of referrals to the IDA pathway (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024)

Number of colorectal cancers diagnosed via the IDA pathway (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024). Number of IDA pathway patients seen by the Colorectal team (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024)

Number of IDA pathway patients seen by the Gastroenterology team (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024)

Do patients with IDA with positive FIT go to the IDA pathway or the lower GI pathway?

Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway Total number of Lower GI suspected cancer referrals (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024).

Number of cancers diagnosed on the Lower GI suspected cancer referral pathway, categorised by site-specific cancer, including (but not limited to): Colorectal Small bowel NTE (Neuroendocrine) Gastric Oesophageal

Any other relevant categories Colorectal Surgery Activity Total number of referrals to Colorectal Surgery (not including lower GI cancer referrals) (01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024).

Average waiting time for a Lower GI 2-week-wait (2WW) referral to first appointment.

Average waiting time for an urgent outpatient referral to Colorectal Surgery.

Average waiting time for a non-urgent outpatient referral to Colorectal Surgery. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

How many patients were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through the Lower GI Faster Diagnostic Pathway?

Our response:

The Trust does not provide the service/s mentioned in your request. Please re-direct your request to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at ghn-tr.foi@nhs.net.

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.