MORE over 50s in the Borders have responded to a through-the-post bowel screening kit than from anywhere else in mainland Scotland.

Figures show that both men and women in the region are leading the way with the early detection kits.

Recently rugby coach Rob Moffat recently highlighted the importance of returning the DIY sample kits after his bowel cancer was caught at the early stages and successfully treated.

The 59-year-old former Melrose, Scotland A, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh head coach underwent successful surgery at Borders General Hospital.

Mr Moffat, along with colleagues and friends, raised £5,000 for the hospital at a dinner in Gattonside.

Rob stated: "I was lucky that the cancer was picked up early through the test.

"When it comes through the post - don't hesitate - send the sample in."

This week's figures reveal that 63 per cent of Borderers who were sent the screening kits through the post had sent back samples - 66.4 per cent of women and 59.5 per cent of men.

The Scottish government's target for the tests is a 60 per cent return rate with the national average currently sitting at 57 per cent.

The DIY sample tests were piloted across NHS Tayside, Grampian and Fife between 2000 and 2007 before being rolled out across the country.

Screening was eventually introduced to the NHS Borders area in November, 2009.

Although the uptake figures are encouraging for health bosses in the region, the figures also show that NHS Borders is the slowest when it comes to providing a colonoscopy for anyone with a positive test.

Only 11 per cent of people who tested positive in the postal screening tests were given colonoscopy procedures to determine the extent of their cancer within four weeks - the national average is 52 per cent and many health boards returned figures in excess of 80 per cent.

NHS Borders confirmed that action is being taken to address the delays.

A spokesperson said: “In February 2017 there are a small number of Borders patients waiting over 6 weeks for a colonoscopy.

"NHS Borders is working to reduce the overall waiting time for patients and has put in place some short term additional colonoscopy capacity to address this. In addition we are working on a long term plan to increase the number of Endoscopists able to do colonoscopy at the BGH."

Although NHS Borders was worst when it came to meeting the four-week target, 92.8 per cent of NHS Borders patients have their colonoscopy performed within eight weeks - above the national average of 89 per cent.