(Update on the BowelScreen age range: From 1 April 2026, BowelScreen is for everyone aged 57 to 71).
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill joined BowelScreen staff and colleagues in Cork University Hospital (CUH) for the official launch of a new BowelScreen endoscopy service in the hospital, today [Friday 14 November]. This means that CUH now provides the full range of clinical services for our BowelScreen participants.
There are now 16 endoscopy units in Ireland delivering colonoscopy procedures to people who need further tests following their free bowel cancer screening test. The additional capacity provided in CUH will support us in our goal to offer endoscopies within 20 days of a person receiving a ‘not normal’ (positive) screening test result. Nationally, we carry out around 5,000 colonoscopies per year.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “Bowel screening makes an important contribution to reducing deaths from cancer and cancer diagnosis. Every colonoscopy is a chance to prevent cancer from developing through the removal of small growths, or to find a cancer while it is at an early stage.”
The Minister congratulated our team for our work to get this new service open and thanked everyone who has worked to support the delivery of BowelScreen at CUH, including Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Clodagh Murphy, who is the BowelScreen Clinical Lead for Endoscopy in CUH; Consultant Histopathologist Dr Michael W (Bill) Bennett, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Mr Emmet Andrews, and Consultant Radiologist Dr Denis Kelly.
CUH is one of Ireland’s eight designated national cancer centres and has been providing histopathology, cancer surgery and CT colonography services for BowelScreen patients in the region since 2012. The new unit has two endoscopy rooms, and six recovery beds. CUH will initially provide 150 procedures per year, increasing to 300 per year as the BowelScreen service expands over time.
During her visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill met BowelScreen participant Mike Brady. Mike was treated at CUH for bowel cancer that was detected through screening.
Mike, who is 67 and from Midleton, said: “I've been looked after extremely well. No matter what question I had, they were able to deal with it… I'm happy to give back by telling my story, and I know that it sounds a bit of a cliché, but I’ve been so lucky.”
BowelScreen participants from Cork and surrounding counties who need further tests following screening will now be invited to one of two locations - Cork University Hospital or Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
BowelScreen is for everyone aged 58 to 70 who have no symptoms of bowel cancer.
Check you’re on the BowelScreen register and request a home-test kit when you’re invited to take part at hse.ie/bowelscreen or call 1800 45 45 55.