We are starting work on a new Information Management System (IMS) for CervicalCheck. This is a major step forward for the programme and an important investment in how we manage cervical screening for women in Ireland.
A modern, reliable information system sits at the centre of any national screening programme. It supports how we invite people for screening, track results, manage follow-up care and continuously improve the service. This new system will help ensure CervicalCheck remains safe, effective and fit for the future.
What CervicalCheck does
One of the main aims of CervicalCheck is to prevent cervical cancer by:
- finding women at higher risk of developing cervical cancer
- actively monitoring and treating abnormal cell changes before cancer develops.
We offer free cervical screening every 3 to 5 years to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 65.
CervicalCheck is enabled by a robust call-and-recall system, known as the Cervical Screening Register. We manage each person’s screening journey from start to finish through this register, including:
- eligibility and invitations
- screening history and laboratory results
- colposcopy attendance
- treatment, if required
- diagnosis, if made.
Over each 5-year screening cycle, we oversee the screening needs of more than 1.4 million women.
Why we need a new information system
Our existing cervical screening register is more than 25 years old. While it has supported the programme for many years, it no longer meets the needs of a modern national screening service.
Because of its age, the current system:
- is functionally outdated
- relies on technologies that are reaching the end of their support lifecycle
- is not future-proofed for a growing and changing population
- requires complex workarounds and manual processes when changes are needed.
As cervical screening has evolved, including changes in screening technology, clinical pathways and population needs, the limitations of the existing system have become more significant.
A new information management system is essential to support the increasing complexity of managing cervical screening and to reduce the risks associated with maintaining an ageing system.
What the new system will do
A new IMS will provide us with a modern, scalable platform that better supports how the programme operates today and how it will develop in the future.
It will:
- support the end-to-end management of each woman’s screening journey
- minimise operational and technology risks
- strengthen governance, quality assurance and reporting
- provide a platform that can adapt as the programme evolves.
Benefits of a new IMS
This investment will create the right foundations for continuous improvement across the programme. The new system will bring a wide range of benefits for our screening participants, programme partners and staff, including:
A more connected digital service
The IMS will:
- enable integration with the HSE Health App and future digital technologies
- integrate securely and seamlessly with external systems, including laboratories, colposcopy clinics, programme partners and other national HSE IT projects.
Stronger data and quality assurance
The system will:
- strengthen data management and reporting
- support robust quality assurance processes
- facilitate the sharing of clear, transparent information
- enhance the collection of real-time, high-quality data.
Better communications and choice
The IMS will support modern communication methods, allowing us to:
- contact women by email and SMS, as well as post
- respond to how women want to hear from us
- reduce reliance on printed letters, supporting a more sustainable service.
A redesigned web interface will also give women greater choice and easier access to programme information.
Supporting uptake and improving equity in screening
The new system will help us to better understand who takes part in screening and where barriers exist, by improving how we collect and use data.
This will allow us to:
- target communications more effectively
- support increased uptake
- inform future service improvements and research.
Over time, this may support the introduction of new approaches, such as HPV self-sampling, and help address under-representation in screening among some population groups.
Next steps
Following a competitive tender process, we’ve awarded the contract to Conseils et Développements Informatiques (CDI) to design and implement the new information management system.
The programme of work, beginning in January 2026, will include careful planning to ensure continuity of service throughout the transition.
Key milestones include:
- a seven-year contract, starting January 2026
- approximately 18 months for design and implementation
- a further 6 months to fully transition from the existing register
- ongoing support and development of the system as it matures.
A foundation for continuous improvement
This new IMS is a critical enabler for CervicalCheck. It will support safer, more efficient programme management, better data-driven decision-making and ongoing improvements in how we deliver cervical screening.
It will help ensure CervicalCheck continues to provide a high-quality, trusted service for women who choose screening, and supports cervical cancer prevention and Ireland’s journey towards cervical cancer elimination.