HSE Expands Free Bowel Screening to 58-Year-Olds As 60,000 More People Become Eligible

The HSE's BowelScreen programme has extended its free cancer screening service to people aged 58, marking the third expansion since October 2023 and making over 60,000 additional people eligible for potentially life-saving tests.

BowelScreen, Ireland's free bowel cancer screening programme, now offers screening to men and women aged 58 to 70, with plans to eventually extend coverage to those aged 55 to 74. The expansion comes as around 2,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year, making it the second most common cancer in men and third most common in women.

People can expect their first invitation for bowel screening between their 58th and 60th birthday. Taking part has been made easier with the launch of a new online register, allowing people to check their registration status, provide contact details, verify when their next test is due and request a home test kit 24/7.

Bowel screening aims to prevent cancer developing by detecting signs at an early stage, before symptoms appear. If bowel cancer is found early, it is easier to treat and offers a better chance of recovery.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said:

"The continued expansion of the BowelScreen Programme by the HSE's National Screening Service is an important step in our ongoing investment in public health and disease prevention. This will ensure that more people across Ireland can benefit from early detection, timely treatment and ultimately better outcomes."

The screening process is straightforward. BowelScreen sends an invitation letter, and people can request their kit online using the QR code provided, by phoning 1800 45 55 55 or by email. The home test kit is then posted out, requiring only a small sample to be returned for testing.

Most people receive normal results, with 96 out of 100 showing no blood. These individuals are sent another test in two years. If blood is found above a certain limit, people are referred for a colonoscopy at one of 15 hospital endoscopy units, where pre-cancerous polyps can be removed during the procedure.

BowelScreen Clinical Director Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna said:

"Making BowelScreen available to younger people is an important step in preventing and detecting bowel cancer early. Our primary goal in BowelScreen is to reduce mortality from bowel cancer. Every year, around 3,000 people have pre-cancerous growths removed because they did our BowelScreen test. These are all potential cancers prevented."

Professor Mac Mathúna emphasised that screening tests are not diagnostic tests and urged people to contact their GP immediately if they experience any symptoms of bowel cancer, even with a recent normal screening result.

Hilary Coffey Farrell, BowelScreen Programme Manager, said:

"By inviting people for screening from age 58, we are offering the test to around 60,000 more people. This is in addition to the 110,000 more invitations we have sent to people aged 59 and 70 since we began expanding the age range for bowel screening in 2023."

The latest programme report shows an overall uptake rate of 46.4 per cent, though nine out of 10 people who complete one test go on to repeat it. In 2024, participants rated their home test kit experience as 9.1 out of 10, with over 99 per cent finding the leaflet easy to read and understand.

The programme has developed accessible information including easy-to-read resources, videos in 26 languages, and Irish Sign Language content. An access officer is available to support people before, during and after screening.

For more information, to check if registered and request a kit, visit hse.ie/bowelscreen or call 1800 45 55 55.