Ferguson presses Nesbitt on roll-out of bowel cancer screening for the over 50s
A Task and Finish Group has been established by the Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride to consider the expedition of bowel screening for everyone aged over 50 in the North.
Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson recently pressed the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on plans to roll-out potentially life-saving screening for bowel cancer more widely.
She asked Mr. Nesbitt for an update on the business case and implementation plan to extend bowel screening from the age of 50.
The Sinn Féin MLA asked if a phased implementation will take place in 2026-27.
Mr. Nesbitt said he was keen to extend the programme to all those aged from 50 to 59 but advised that because the 2026/27 budget has not yet been agreed it impacts decisions he is able to make this year.
"At my request, the Chief Medical Officer has established a Task and Finish Group to further consider options to expedite the extension of the bowel screening programme this year.
"Subject to the outcomes of the Task and Finish group, I have given approval for the expansion of the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme to begin from April 2027, starting sequentially with those aged 59 years of age.
"This would mean that by April 2030, screening will be offered to everyone aged between 50 and 74 years old, every two years, using a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) at a sensitivity of 120 micrograms of haemoglobin per gram of faeces,” he stated.
The minister described this as a 'significant expansion' that is expected to eventually result in an extra 135,000 people being invited to participate in bowel screening. That is an 80 per cent increase on the current provision.
"To help facilitate the age extension, important preparatory work is now underway to ensure there is sufficient endoscopy capacity to deliver additional Bowel Cancer Screening sessions.
"The CMO recently provided an update to me on the work of the Task and Finish Group.
"The Group is continuing its work to further consider options to expedite the extension of the bowel cancer screening programmes this year.
"The CMO is working with policy and commissioner colleagues to seek to advance this work," he stated.