Northern Ireland starts bowel cancer screening at 60

Bowel cancer screening in Northern Ireland starts 10 years later than in the rest of the UK. Here, people are tested starting at age 60, while in England, Scotland, and Wales, screening begins at age 50. This gap is concerning because bowel cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, and earlier detection greatly increases the chances of survival. Almost 1,200 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland. If caught early, the cure rate is an impressive 91%. The charity Bowel Cancer UK has urged the government to close the screening age gap to save more lives. Jennifer Bamforth from the charity highlighted that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where screening starts at age 60. Currently, Northern Ireland offers home testing kits for people aged 60 to 74. The national cancer strategy has plans to expand the age range for screening, but the Health Department needs to ensure health services can support this change. There have been delays due to a lack of leadership in the government. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a strategic plan aiming to enhance the bowel cancer screening program by April 2027. However, the Department of Health states improvements depend on budget constraints and the capacity of supporting services. There are also criticisms regarding treatment times for bowel cancer patients. Recent figures show only about 26.8% of patients were seen within the desired 62-day timeframe. The Health Minister is committed to enhancing cancer services within current budget limitations to better meet patient needs.