We’re calling for urgent improvement to Northern Ireland’s bowel cancer services as Stormont returns

Now that all political parties have agreed on the need to return to Stormont, we call for urgent action to improve bowel cancer services in Northern Ireland. 

We believe it’s scandalous that with no executive in place for the last two years, the recommendations of the NI Cancer Strategy have not been actioned because of the lack of funding. The strategy includes plans to improve earlier diagnosis and increase awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer.

Having no Assembly in place has contributed to exceptionally long waiting times for tests that can diagnose bowel cancer. Figures published in January 2024 by Northern Ireland’s Department of Health show that only 19% of suspected bowel cancer patients are seen within the 62-day target (July to September 2023) for a confirmed diagnosis. This severely lags behind the rest of the UK.   

We hope that politicians will now implement the NI Cancer Strategy recommendations without delay and support our mission to increase awareness of bowel cancer; remove the barriers to people being diagnosed quickly, and at the earliest possible stage; get the right treatment and care to every patient, and support people to cope better with bowel cancer.   

Bowel cancer is Northern Ireland’s second biggest cancer killer but when diagnosed at the early stages it is more likely to be treatable and curable. 

Gerard McMahon, Head of Policy & Influencing (Devolved Nations) at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “We welcome the long-awaited agreement on the need to return to Stormont. For the last two years the desperately needed recommendations in the NI Cancer Strategy have been abandoned without an executive to fund them, and opportunities to improve bowel cancer services in the country have been missed. Patients and their families have paid a heavy price for this as long waiting times resulted in many being diagnosed at a later stage, when the disease is harder to treat and there’s less chance of a cure. 

“As Stormont gets back up and running, we will work with all parties to fulfil the promises of the NI Cancer Strategy and to prioritise early diagnosis for bowel cancer patients when the disease is easier to treat. We expect a renewed commitment on expanding the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme so that the screening age is lowered from 60 to 50, which has the potential to save thousands of lives. Urgent investment is needed to grow the workforce, provide new equipment and improve pathways to tackle the worst ever waiting times on record faced by suspected bowel cancer patients. A driving forward of research and investment is also essential in improving patient outcomes. 

“Bowel cancer is Northern Ireland’s fourth most common cancer but the earlier it’s diagnosed the more treatable and curable it is. There’s no time to waste, let’s seize this opportunity to help save more lives from bowel cancer.” 

• Learn more about our work in Northern Ireland 
• Read more about our campaign on ending the capacity crisis in NHS bowel cancer diagnostic services 
• Read our new five-year strategy that aims to ensure more people are diagnosed at the earliest stages when the disease is easier to treat