NHS Data Show Lower Bowel Screening Uptake Among People in Their 50s

New data from NHS England show that participation in bowel cancer screening is lower among people in their 50s than in older age groups. The figures, covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, indicate that only 56.2% of 54-year-olds completed the screening test during that year.

The NHS has highlighted the figures as part of a wider effort to understand patterns of uptake in the national bowel screening programme. Bowel cancer screening is offered to people aged 54 to 74 in England, with the test sent by post every two years. The programme is designed to detect early signs of bowel cancer, including blood in the stool that may not be visible.

Participation rates by age

The latest annual figures show that uptake varies by age. While the NHS did not release a full breakdown for all ages in the most recent release, the figure for 54-year-olds—the youngest cohort invited for screening—was 56.2%. This is lower than the overall participation rate for the programme, which has historically been higher among people in their 60s and early 70s.

Lower uptake among people in their 50s has been a consistent pattern in bowel screening data. The reasons are not fully explained by the available figures, but the NHS has noted that people in this age group may be less likely to return the test kit after receiving it in the post.

What the screening test involves

The bowel screening test used in England is the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). It requires a small sample of stool to be collected at home and returned by post in a prepaid envelope. The sample is then analysed for traces of blood that could indicate polyps or cancer. A positive result does not mean cancer is present, but it leads to an invitation for further investigation, usually a colonoscopy.

The NHS has previously reported that the programme detects cancers at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful. The test is sent automatically to people registered with a GP in the eligible age range.

Data limitations

The figure of 56.2% for 54-year-olds comes from the latest annual bowel screening figures published by NHS England. It reflects completed tests returned within the relevant period. People who were invited but did not return a kit are counted as non-participants. The data do not distinguish between those who chose not to take part and those who may not have received the kit due to address changes or other administrative issues.

The NHS has not published a direct comparison with the same age group from previous years in this release, but the overall trend of lower uptake among people in their 50s has been noted in earlier reports.

Context of the screening programme

Bowel cancer screening in England began in 2006 for people aged 60 to 69. The age range was gradually expanded, and in 2021 the programme began inviting people from age 50 in some areas, with full rollout to age 50 completed by 2025. The current invitation range is 54 to 74, with the NHS planning to lower the starting age to 50 for all areas.

The expansion means more people in their 50s are now being invited than in earlier years, which may influence participation statistics. The NHS has said it is working to improve uptake across all eligible age groups, including through reminders and public information campaigns.

According to the latest annual bowel screening figures, the proportion of 54-year-olds who took part in screening between April 2024 and March 2025 was 56.2%.