AQW 47859/22-27

Mr Gerry Carroll
People Before Profit Alliance
West Belfast

Tabled Date: 04/06/2026
Answered On Date: 26/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department is taking to improve access to bowel cancer screening services.

Answer:

The NI Bowel Cancer Screening Programme currently invites eligible individuals, aged between 60 and 74 years old, every two years. Invitations and home test kits are automatically sent by post to the address registered with their GP.

Work to extend the age range 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.