AQW 46567/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 19/05/2026
Answered On Date: 17/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has any plans to (i) expand the eligibility criteria for bowel cancer screening services; and (ii) lower the age of access to 50, as it is elsewhere in the UK.

Answer:

I remain committed to extending the age range of the NI Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, to include those aged 50 to 59 years of age

Work to extend the age range for the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme down to 50 years of age, in line with the UK National Screening Committee recommendation, is ongoing but must be viewed within the context of wider financial and capacity challenges within the supporting services.

I have asked the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to establish a Task and Finish group to further consider options to expedite the extension of the bowel cancer screening programme. This group, chaired by CMO, is due to provide me with an initial report by the end of June 2026.