Thousands more people in Northern Ireland will be offered bowel cancer screening after Health Minister Robbie Butler confirmed a major expansion of the regional programme.

From 2 November 2026, invitations will be issued to those aged 59, with 58-year-olds joining from April 2027. The staged rollout will continue until everyone aged 50 to 74 is eligible by 2031.

The move is intended to detect cancers earlier, improving treatment outcomes and saving lives. It also advances towards UK National Screening Committee advice that people aged 50–74 should be screened every two years using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Currently in Northern Ireland, screening is offered to those aged 60–74.

Robbie Butler said: "I am delighted to announce this significant expansion of the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

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

"This investment will not only improve outcomes for patients but is also expected to deliver annual health service savings of between £1.7 million and £2 million once fully implemented.

"I want to thank Health and Social Care staff and officials across Northern Ireland who have worked tirelessly to put the infrastructure and arrangements in place to make this expansion possible.

"Most importantly, I would strongly encourage everyone who receives a screening kit to take part. Bowel cancer screening saves lives." Professor Lourda Geoghegan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "This is a landmark step for bowel cancer screening in Northern Ireland.

"Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers we face, with more than 1,300 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year.

"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."

"Once fully implemented, the programme will invite an additional 135,000 people every year, increasing participation by around 80% compared with current screening levels.

"A phased rollout will ensure screening, diagnostic and treatment services can manage the increased demand while maintaining high standards of care."

People who have symptoms should not wait for an invitation; they should contact their GP. Screening is for those without symptoms, and different tests are used to investigate signs of possible bowel cancer.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: "We're delighted that the Department of Health in Northern Ireland has funded the phased extension of bowel cancer screening to people aged 50–74. This is a significant step towards improving bowel cancer survival in Northern Ireland. 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. We look forward to seeing the programme being rolled out as quickly and safely as possible."