AQW 46568/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps that his Department is taking to improve access to bowel cancer screening services.
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
- 5 June 202617 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme currently invites eligible individuals, aged between 60 and 74 years old, every two years to participate in the screening programme. Invitations and home test kits are automatically sent by post to the address registered with a GP.
Work to expand 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.