You can buy testing kits in boots , not that expensive i think i noticed them the other day 

Hello and thank you for your post.

I am afraid that it is not recommended to buy and use a bowel cancer testing kit. 

If you have symptoms, do go to see your GP, who may give you an NHS bowel screening kit. If you have no symptoms, then wait for the NHS kit to be posted to you.

Take care,

Caroline

I understand that but this persons doctor refuses to let them have a test so i see this as a makeshift until their surgery allows them to 

I understand that but this persons doctor refuses to let them have a test so i see this as a makeshift until their surgery allows them to 

Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about this situation. If your friend continues to have symptoms then do go back to the GP or another GP in the practice.

As my colleague Nurse Caroline said we can't recommend bowel screening kits that you buy yourself as we can't say whether they will be reliable or not.

This is what Bowel Cancer UK say about at-home self-tests

'Private screening tests are at-home self-tests sold by private companies that test for blood in your poo and return a positive, negative, or invalid result. Also called commercial screening tests, they can be bought in pharmacies, online, and in some shops and supermarkets. These tests are not approved for NHS screening and unlike NHS test companies they don't have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).'

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Catherine