AQW 46567/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
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.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 19 May 2026
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 19 May 2026
- Answer due by
- 4 June 2026
- Answered
- 17 June 202629 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
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.