Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for making it easier for patients to access cancer screening.

NHS Screening Quality Assurance Service inspectors visited Royal Bolton Hospital  to see for themselves how staff were making it easier for patients to access bowel cancer screening.

This is hugely important to detecting bowel cancer in its earliest stages and making sure people can be treated as soon as possible.

Bolton Bowel cancer screening programme manager Amanda Peet said: "We are so proud of the initial feedback we have received and it’s a great reflection on the incredible work of staff.

“Thanks to the hard work of all the team we are now in much stronger position and continue to strive for excellence in everything that we do."

The praise from the inspectors comes not long after Bolton NHS Foundation Trust expanded it bowel cancer screening offer to include 56 year olds across Bolton, Salford and Wigan in April last year.

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In August last year the trust expanded its offer again to include people aged 58 meaning that the screening programme is open to more and more people.

Anyone who is eligible for screening and who is concerned about bowel cancer has been encouraged to come forward as soon as possible.