AQW 46377/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans for cancer screening programmes to be undertaken within community settings.

Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 15 May 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
15 May 2026
Answer due by
2 June 2026
Answered
3 June 202619 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

There are currently three cancer screening programmes in Northern Ireland, Bowel, Cervical and Breast screening.

Bowel screening involves a home test kit which is automatically sent by post to eligible individuals at the address registered with their GP, while Cervical screening invites eligible women for screening at their GPs. The NI Breast Screening Programme uses a mixture of static and mobile units. The mobile units rotate around a number of sites according to which areas are being offered screening at that time. There are no plans to extend cancer screening within community settings at this time.

Official sources