2.3.1 Timeframe for referring to a specialist

If symptoms suggest colorectal cancer, patients should be referred and a colonoscopy completed within four weeks of the general practitioner referral.

Patients should be seen by the surgeon within two weeks of the general practitioner referral following a positive diagnosis of colorectal cancer via colonoscopy. Patients should bring a copy of the colonoscopy report and other relevant medical and psychosocial history.