The Marie Keating Foundation has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Health to approve the recommendation to extend BowelScreen to people aged 50–54, describing it as a hugely positive step that could help save lives through earlier detection of bowel cancer.

The decision follows a recent Health Technology Assessment (HTA) by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which found that extending screening to this age group would likely be cost-effective and has the potential to reduce deaths from colorectal cancer. However, the review also highlighted significant capacity challenges across the health service, warning that additional investment in staffing, diagnostics and infrastructure will be essential to avoid delays in tests and follow-up procedures as the programme expands.

The Foundation has long called for the age of access to BowelScreen to be lowered through its #NoRegrets campaigns, highlighting the worrying rise in bowel cancer diagnoses among younger adults.

Liz Yeates, CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation, said: “This is a very welcome and important decision that will save lives.

“We know that bowel cancer is increasingly affecting younger people, so lowering the age of access to BowelScreen is a hugely positive step forward. Screening can detect cancer before symptoms appear and significantly improve outcomes through earlier diagnosis.

“However, it is vital that this expansion is properly resourced. We cannot have a situation where people are encouraged to come forward for screening but then face long delays for follow-up tests and procedures.

“Investment in staffing, diagnostics and endoscopy capacity must happen alongside this rollout to ensure the programme can expand safely, effectively and without delaying care.

“We look forward to seeing a clear implementation plan in the months ahead and would continue to encourage anyone eligible for screening to take part.”