By Dr Aoife Collins, Senior Health Promotion Officer, National Screening Service
We’re taking action to make our screening programmes more accessible for disabled people. We’re implementing practical changes, based on research, to break down barriers and improve equity.
Background
In 2023, we published the findings of a study to assess the needs of disabled people using screening services in Ireland. This research has shaped a programme of work to reduce barriers and make screening more accessible and inclusive for all.
What we have done
Our work has included improving communication, delivering training and developing more information resources.
We have:
- developed and delivered staff training on disability awareness, effective communication and reasonable accommodation
- provided training for our access officers
- developed a guide to screening for carers to support carers and the people they support to access screening
- developed information in accessible formats including easy-to-read, plain English and visual stories using photos and videos
- worked to increase health literacy in screening
- produced videos with Irish Sign Language
- increased the diversity of our Public and Patient Partnership to include people with a disability
- assessed our reasonable accommodation processes
- shared our learnings and presented our work nationally including at the world’s first conference addressing cancer care for people with intellectual disabilities
- collaborated internationally with our European partners as part of the EUCanScreen project which aims to make cancer screening more accessible and more equitable
- developed and implemented a communications toolkit supported by training to build staff capacity and support a person-centred culture of clear communications.
Next steps
In 2026 and 2027 we will:
- continue to provide training on disability awareness, effective communication and reasonable accommodation for new staff
- evaluate this staff training
- review and improve information for disabled people on our websites so that people can find the information that they need to make informed choices about taking part in screening
- continue to adapt and improve our information materials and campaigns information to make sure people continue to see themselves represented in our communications
- improve our reasonable accommodation processes
- consider alternative screening methods where conventional tests are not accessible, for example, in 2026 we will start a feasibility study of HPV-self sampling in cervical screening.
Our work to address the barriers for disabled people to access screening is part of our work to improve equity in screening. By listening to people with disabilities and acting on what we learn, we’re working to make sure that disabled people can take part in screening and benefit from prevention and early detection. These are essential steps in building and improving screening programmes that welcome everyone.