Bowel cancer screening is available to all people age 60 to 69 living in Ireland. You need to be on the bowel screening register before you’re sent an invitation to take a screening test.
How to register
If you have not received an invitation for bowel screening call Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or email info@bowelscreen.ie to check if you're on the register.
If you are not on the register, you can add your details over the phone. You can also register for bowel screening online.
Once you are registered you can get the free home screening test. You will be sent the home screening test every 2 years.
If you are already registered but need to update your contact details you can email us at info@bowelscreen.ie.
If you are under 60
If you are not between 60 and 69 years of age, then you are not eligible for bowel cancer screening.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if you:
- are worried about symptoms of bowel cancer
- have a family history of bowel cancer
- have symptoms of bowel cancer between screening tests
Contact BowelScreen
The National Bowel Screening Programme,
King's Inn House,
200 Parnell Street,
Dublin 1,
D01 A3Y8
Freephone: 1800 45 45 55
From outside Ireland: +353 (0)21 421 7612 (charged at normal land line rates)
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (Closed Bank Holidays)
Email: info@bowelscreen.ie
Your personal information
We need to collect and store some of your personal information to help deliver our screening programme. This information includes your:
- name
- address
- phone number
- date of birth
- PPS number
- bowel screening history
Your bowel screening history can include any screening results you have had with us. It also includes any colonoscopies, treatments and biopsy results.
But if you have had a screening test as a private patient, we will not hold this information. We are also unable to access any information or results of tests you have had as a private patient.
How we use your information
We use your personal information to write to you. We will contact you when your next bowel screening test is due or when your results are available.
Your medical records will be kept safe and secure. These will only be shared with your GP, the colonoscopy clinic, the National Cancer Registry of Ireland or other nominated healthcare professional.
We collect and store your records to make sure we have an accurate record of your screening history. We also do it to see if screening is effective in reducing the number of bowel cancer deaths.
We may use your screening test sample in teaching, in reviews and audits. This is to help improve our programme.
We may also use your information to invite you to take part in research. You can choose to take part or not.
We will not use your details without your permission. We will never use your name in any reports, when teaching or in reviews or audits.
Where we get your details
BowelScreen puts together a list of men and women eligible for screening.
We get these details from:
- the Department of Social Protection
- self-registration (when you register by phone or online)
Under the Health (Provision of Information) Act, 1997 we can be given names and addresses of people who need to be invited to take part in screening programmes for cancers.
General Data Protected Regulation (GDPR)
Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we keep your personal details and health records safe and confidential at all times.
You will have full access to your personal information and bowel screening records. You can request these from us at any time.
Opting out
You can opt out of the bowel screening programme at any time by phoning Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or emailing info@bowelscreen.ie. If you change your mind at a later date you can contact us again and we can put you back on the list.