Bowel cancer screening extended to pharmacies for first time

Hilary Coffey Farrell, BowelScreen, and Genevieve Morrissey, Marron's Pharmacy, as the HSE BowelScreen programme becomes available in pharmacies around Ireland. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Free bowel cancer screening will be available through pharmacies for the first time from next month, in a move aimed at increasing uptake of the potentially life-saving test.

The HSE said only around half of those eligible currently take part in the screening programme and hopes the new pharmacy-based service will encourage more people to get tested.