We recently welcomed an international delegation from the Migration, Equity and Diversity Task Force on a site visit to the HSE National Screening Service to learn more about our work to improve equity in screening.
Delegates included public health representatives, senior healthcare managers, academics, clinical leads, nurses and intercultural mediators from Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy.
Sharing our approach to improving equity in screening
During the visit, we presented our strategic approach to equity, which is embedded in our strategy – Choose Screening – Together we can make a difference.
A key milestone of this work has been the development of our Equity Framework 2023-2027. The framework provides a roadmap for improving equitable access to screening and reducing health inequalities.
We highlighted evidence showing how some groups experience lower participation in our screening programmes. We shared how we are using this evidence to identify where support and targeted action is needed, including developing partnerships in communities where people are less likely to take part in screening.
We described how we collaborate and partner with trusted community organisations to co-design initiatives that help address barriers to screening. Examples of recent partnerships include our work with the Roma Health Network, Traveller projects, migrant support services, homeless services and LGBT+ communities.
We highlighted two key initiatives supporting our work to improve access to screening:
- Patient and Public Partnership (PPP): a network of diverse volunteers who share their personal experiences to help shape and improve our screening programmes
- Community Champions project: training trusted members of local communities to share accurate information about screening with people who have never attended screening, who do not attend regularly and may face barriers to accessing screening.
We were joined by one of our community champions, Angela, who completed our training in 2024. Angela shared how she works with marginalised communities in Dublin’s south inner city and works to build trust and relationships with people. She helps to address fears and anxieties that people may have about taking part in screening and helps them to overcome practical, cultural and language barriers.
Delegates were particularly interested in both these initiatives, and we shared more information about:
- our recruitment campaign to increase the membership of our PPP and increase diversity among our members
- the importance of developing long-term partnerships with community organisations who share our goal of improving equity in screening and reducing health inequalities.
International Standards for Equity in Healthcare
The visit formed part of a wider international workshop hosted by the Task Force, to discuss the use of the International Standards for Equity in Healthcare to help improve service quality and equity performance, and to share learning and good practices on health equity.
Central to this work is a self-assessment tool for the implementation of the standards to help services address issues and improve how they provide accessible, inclusive health care to people from diverse populations.
- Learn more about our work to improve equity in screening.