By Dr Rachael Comer, Education and Training Manager, CervicalCheck
Over the past 4 years, we’ve been delivering on our CervicalCheck Education Strategy 2022-2025. The result is a stronger, more consistent and more accessible education system that supports safe, high-quality cervical screening. Now, we are looking ahead to the next phase.
The strategy focused on:
- evidence-based education
- supporting new and experienced sample takers
- keeping the needs of women and people with a cervix at the centre.
We have now completed all 5 strategic priorities.
What we achieved
Priority 1: A nationally consistent, accessible education programme
We introduced a single, standardised national CervicalCheck screening education programme – a consistent approach to training across primary and non-primary care. The education programme is tailored to both novice and experienced sample takers and is free, improving access for everyone taking part.
Impact:
- 60% of active sample takers have completed the programme.
- A further 5% of registered sample takers are currently taking part in the programme.
- Education is now aligned with policy, quality standards and emerging evidence.
Priority 2: Strong engagement in continuous professional development
We made it easier for healthcare professionals to keep their skills up to date. This included a suite of clinical updates launched in 2024 and 2025; and flexible learning options, including Lunch and Learn webinars.
Impact:
- Over 87% of all registered sample takers completed at least one clinical update.
- At least 91% in primary care completed an update within 3 years.
- This supports ongoing competence and safe screening practice.
Priority 3: Clear governance and stronger programme assurance
We embedded education within robust governance structures.
This included:
- establishing a national Education Advisory Group with clinical, public health and public representation
- clear accountability and oversight processes
- regular use of feedback, audit and performance data.
Impact:
- Consistent oversight of cervical screening education across care settings.
- Better understanding of uptake, variation and risk.
- Continuous improvement built into how we deliver education.
Priority 4: A skilled, compassionate education workforce
We invested in our education team to support high-quality delivery. This included clear roles and responsibilities, a focus on compassionate, transparent engagement, and a peer-to-peer supervision model for clinical trainers.
Impact:
- Stronger professional development and shared learning.
- Greater trust and psychological safety in training environments.
- More consistent and effective team performance.
Priority 5: Smarter use of resources to support equity and access
We used a blended and flexible approach to education delivery.
This included:
- tailored pathways for different clinical roles, services and experience levels
- geographic organisation of trainers to improve access
- a mix of eLearning, workshops, webinars and outreach.
Impact:
- More equitable access to education and setting up cervical screening services in non-traditional practice settings.
- Reduced travel and improved efficiency.
- Greater flexibility for healthcare professionals.
Strengthening assurance through data and insight
A key achievement across all priorities has been the development of structured reporting.
This allows us to:
- track education uptake and engagement
- identify variation across settings
- highlight areas of potential risk and of opportunity.
It also provides a strong evidence base to support programme assurance and future planning.
Next steps
We are now starting work to develop our next CervicalCheck Education Strategy (2026-2029). This will set our future direction, reflect on programme learning and workforce changes, and strengthen our focus on equity and quality.
As part of this next phase, we will review and update education standards to ensure they remain evidence-based, fit for purpose and aligned with national and international best practice.
Preparing for the future of cervical screening
Our new strategy will focus on preparing healthcare professionals for what comes next.
This includes:
- the potential role of HPV self-sampling
- supporting Ireland’s ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040
- adapting the cervical screening programme in line with emerging evidence for a population that is increasingly vaccinated against HPV and at lower risk of developing cervical cancer.
Continuing to support high-quality screening
This is a key transition point for cervical screening education.
By building on what we have achieved, we will continue to:
- support safe, high-quality screening in diverse screening services
- respond to the needs of women and people with a cervix
- equip healthcare professionals with the skills they need now and into the future.
Our focus remains on delivering education that supports better screening, better outcomes and better care.