The NHS FIT Dashboard | A Quick Start Guide for PCN Leaders

Jul 13
3 min read

Updated: Jul 14

In July 2025, NHS England published a new FIT dashboard to support Primary Care Networks in meeting the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) CAN-04 indicator.

This tool helps PCNs track and improve their performance in ensuring patients referred on the urgent suspected cancer pathway have completed a FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) within 21 days before referral.

Why does this matter?

✅ FIT testing helps identify which patients are most likely to have bowel cancer

✅ Patients with positive FIT results can be prioritised for faster colonoscopy

✅ Better use of FIT reduces unnecessary colonoscopies and waiting times

✅ Early detection through proper screening saves lives

What’s in the dashboard?

The dashboard brings together data from multiple sources to show:

➡️ Your PCN’s current FIT completion rates

➡️ How you compare to other practices and regions

➡️ Impact on cancer waiting times

➡️ Monthly trends and progress toward the 80% target

Your IIF Payment

Meeting the 80% threshold triggers IIF payments to your PCN. But more importantly, it means your patients are getting appropriate screening that leads to earlier cancer detection and better outcomes.

About this guide

This quick reference guide helps you navigate the dashboard efficiently, understand what the numbers mean, and take practical actions to improve your performance.

Use it alongside the full dashboard to drive improvements in your network.

The NHS dashboard can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/investment-and-impact-fund-can04-fit-incentive/

Common Challenges & Questions for Consideration

Patient Engagement with FIT Testing

What reasons do patients give for declining FIT tests?
Are there specific groups in your population with lower uptake?
What methods of explanation work best with your patients?

FIT Kit Availability

How do you monitor current stock levels?
What triggers your reordering process?
Do all clinical rooms have easy access to kits?
Is there a backup plan when stocks run low?

Sample Return Rates

What percentage of distributed kits are returned?
How long do patients typically take to return samples?
What follow-up process is currently in place?
Have you asked patients about barriers to returning samples?

Communication and Understanding

Which languages are spoken in your practice population?
How do patients prefer to receive health information?
Are current instructions clear to all patient groups?
What feedback have you received about the test process?

System and Process Integration

Does your clinical system flag FIT requirements effectively?
How are clinicians reminded about FIT during consultations?
What happens when urgent referrals are made without FIT?
Is FIT performance discussed in practice/ PCN meetings?

Understanding Your PCN Context

What unique challenges does your population face?
How might your location affect FIT completion rates?
What has changed in your area that might impact performance?
Which local resources could support improvement?

Remember: Context Matters

Every practice is different. Your FIT completion rates are influenced by factors including:

Population demographics (age, language, cultural background)
Deprivation levels (affects health-seeking behaviour)
Practice resources (staffing, funding, space)
Historical trust in healthcare services
Geographic challenges (rural practices, transport links)

We hope this helps!

About Us

THC Primary Care is an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the creator of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, we've supported more than 200 PCNs through interim management, training, and consultancy services.

Our expertise spans project management and business development across both private and public sectors. Our work has been published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and we've authored over 250 blogs sharing insights about primary care networks.