BowelScreen – National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
Bowel cancer is one of the three most commonly diagnosed cancers in Ireland, affecting both men and women. Each year, approximately 2,800 people in Ireland are diagnosed with bowel cancer.
To address this, the Government introduced the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in 2012. The aim of the programme is to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most effective and recovery outcomes are improved. This national screening programme is known as BowelScreen and has since been rolled out across Ireland.
BowelScreen at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)
Tallaght University Hospital is proud to be a designated screening centre for BowelScreen as part of the national programme. We are strongly committed to bowel cancer prevention, early detection, and the removal of polyps that may develop into cancer if left untreated.
The Hospital has a long-standing history in bowel cancer screening and was the first hospital in Ireland to pilot a bowel cancer screening programme. Our hospital laboratory was also the first in Ireland to introduce the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) and has significant experience and research expertise in this area.
Our BowelScreen service is delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and support staff who are committed to providing high-quality care in a welcoming and supportive environment. We place a strong emphasis on patient dignity, comfort, and holistic care throughout every stage of the screening process.
Our Team
Our BowelScreen service is supported by an experienced and highly skilled clinical team, including:
Consultant Gastroenterologists
Professor Anthony O’Connor
Professor Deirdre McNamara
Dr Fintan O’Hara
Consultant Surgeon
Mr Dara Kavanagh
Consultant Histopathologists
Dr Peter De La Harpe Golden
Dr Paul Crotty
Dr Dorinda Mullen
Dr Kevin O’Hare
Together, our team works closely to ensure safe, timely, and effective care for all patients participating in the BowelScreen programme at TUH.
The BowelScreen service is supported by a dedicated and experienced nursing team including;
Fiona Delaney, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Jennie Cawley, Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM2)
Bowel Screen CNS/CNM
Working alongside our endoscopy team, from reception through to discharge, we work closely with patients to ensure high-quality, safe, and compassionate care throughout the BowelScreen journey.
The BowelScreen CNS and CNM support patients at every stage of the BowelScreen programme including;
- Acting as a key point of contact from the first step following an abnormal FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test)
- Coordinating referrals for colonoscopy or other appropriate services
- Managing surveillance where ongoing follow-up is required
- Communicating results clearly and sensitively
- Supporting patients through discharge from the programme
How to Contact Us
BowelScreen – Tallaght University Hospital
📞 Phone: 01 414 4070
📧 Email: BowelScreen@tuh.ie
To register for the national BowelScreen programme:
National Screening Service
📞 Freephone: 1800 454 555
🌐 Website: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bowel-screening
Information and Patient Resources
Helpful information leaflets and videos - available in several languages - can be found at the links below:
Colonoscopy information:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bowel-screening/colonoscopy
BowelScreen patient information resources:
https://www.bowelscreen.ie/bowelscreen-information-resources.132.html
