Bowel cancer screening to reach younger adults in Northern Ireland from November

Wednesday 30 September 2026

People aged 59 in Northern Ireland will begin receiving invitations for bowel cancer screening from 2 November, as a phased expansion aims to detect more cancers before symptoms develop.

Those aged 58 will join the programme from April 2027, with eligibility gradually widening until everyone aged 50 to 74 is included by 2031.

The change will give younger adults access to screening currently offered every two years to people aged 60 to 74. Once fully implemented, the programme is expected to invite an additional 135,000 people each year.

Who will become eligible and when

Health Minister Robbie Butler said the extension would help identify cancers earlier, when treatment is most effective.

Invitations will begin extending to 59-year-olds on 2 November 2026, followed by 58-year-olds in April 2027. The announcement does not set out individual start dates for the remaining younger age groups ahead of the 2031 target.

Mr Butler said:

“Extending screening to people aged 50 to 59 will help identify more cancers at an earlier stage, when treatment is most effective.”

He added:

“Most importantly, I would strongly encourage everyone who receives a screening kit to take part. Bowel cancer screening saves lives.”

Finding cancer before symptoms develop

More than 1,300 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Northern Ireland each year, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Lourda Geoghegan.

She said:

“Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect the disease early, when treatment has the best chance of success. It can also identify changes in the bowel before cancer develops.”

Professor Geoghegan said the phased approach would allow screening, diagnostic and treatment services to manage the additional demand while maintaining standards of care.

The minister said the expansion was also expected to deliver annual health service savings of between £1.7 million and £2 million once fully implemented.

How the screening test works

The programme uses a faecal immunochemical test, known as FIT, which checks a small sample of poo for blood and helps identify people who need further investigation.

Kits are posted to eligible people and completed at home. Readers should ensure their GP has their correct address and return the completed sample promptly using the prepaid envelope provided.

A result requiring further tests does not mean someone has cancer. Equally, screening cannot detect every cancer, so symptoms should be discussed with a GP even after a clear screening result. For questions about a kit or a replacement, the screening helpline is 0800 015 2514.

Northern Trust laboratory processes samples

All bowel screening samples from across Northern Ireland are processed and examined at a laboratory based within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

The Department of Health said the expansion had been made possible through work by the Northern Trust, Public Health Agency, Strategic Planning and Performance Group and Business Services Organisation.

Information gathered during the rollout will also help inform future changes to the amount of blood that triggers further investigation. Lowering that threshold could help identify more cancers and abnormal growths that may develop into cancer.

Charity welcomes wider access

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, welcomed funding for the phased extension to people aged 50 to 74.

She said:

“It will give thousands more people the opportunity to take part in screening, helping to find more cancers earlier when the disease is easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher.”

She added:

“We look forward to seeing the programme being rolled out as quickly and safely as possible.”

Symptoms should not wait for screening

Anyone experiencing possible bowel cancer symptoms should contact their GP rather than wait for a screening invitation. Screening is intended for people without symptoms; those with symptoms need assessment through a different testing pathway.

Symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, such as unusually soft poo, diarrhoea or constipation; needing to go more or less often; or feeling the need to go even after using the toilet.

Other signs include red or black blood in poo, bleeding from the bottom, abdominal pain or a lump, bloating, unexplained weight loss and unusual tiredness, including tiredness caused by anaemia.

Further information and support

Information about bowel cancer is available from Cancer Research UK at https://www.cancerresearchuk.org⁠ and Bowel Cancer UK at https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk⁠.

For people in their fifties, access will depend on the phased timetable rather than an immediate extension to everyone over 50. Anyone worried about symptoms, however, should seek GP advice now, whatever their age.