March 2022
Support us on HPV Awareness Day
Today CervicalCheck will mark HPV Awareness Day (Friday 4th March) by releasing the latest in our CervicalCheck series of information videos which explain what happens during screening. This one is presented in Irish by Clinical Director of CervicalCheck, Dr Nóirín Russell. We plan to develop multilingual videos similar to our CervicalCheck series for both BreastCheck and Diabetic RetinaScreen in the future.
We have also answered the most commonly asked questions about primary HPV screening, which you can use as a handy resource in your work.
We would appreciate your support by retweeting and sharing our social media posts on your channels. Find us at: Twitter - @HSELive , Facebook and Instagram
Easing of COVID-19 restrictions
The legal requirement to wear a face covering no longer applies. However, most of our clinics are located in primary care settings where physical distancing and mask wearing is still advised.
- BreastCheck
We continue to ask staff and screening participants to follow mask wearing guidance in healthcare facilities including all BreastCheck static and mobile units. - CervicalCheck
Women attending for cervical screening appointments or colposcopy unit appointments will be required to follow HSE guidance on the use of face covering in a healthcare setting. Individual GP practices may inform their patients of additional guidance so please confirm in advance of appointment. - BowelScreen
People attending for endoscopy services will be required to follow HSE guidance on the use of face covering in a healthcare setting. We are working to increase the number of colonoscopies delivered in new and existing units, however we estimate it will be at least April 2022 before Endoscopy services are back operating at full capacity. - DRS
We continue to ask staff and screening participants to follow mask wearing guidance in healthcare facilities.
HSE National Service Plan
The HSE National Service Plan was launched on Tuesday March 1. It details how the €21 billion health budget will be spent, with a focus on reducing the waiting lists for outpatients in the wake of the Covid-19. The plan outlines NSS priority areas for action in 2022 - as a whole and across each programme.
These include:
- Progress baseline modelling and structures in preparation for Ireland setting a target for the elimination of cervical cancer;
- Continue the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Interval Cancer Expert Reference Group Reports;
- Continue to develop and strengthen information governance within NSS;
- Implement a communications strategy to ensure continued support, education and information for the public on screening programmes;
- Pilot an information hub to bring a standardised, co-ordinated approach to information resources for patients, the public and healthcare professionals
- Enhance ICT systems and applications
You can read the National Service Plan 2022 here.
You can read about our process implementing the expert reference group reports here.
Ordering Screening Service Materials
We have a new process for ordering screening service materials, using www.healthpromotion.ie. The current wait time for delivery on orders is 2.5 to 3 weeks. If you have any questions, please email the Health Information Team on healthinfo@hse.ie
Stakeholder Engagement Survey
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the recent Stakeholder Engagement Survey. Your valuable feedback will help us to better understand your experiences with NSS and improve our engagements going forward. The results will inform the NSS Communications Strategy and will also feed into strategy development.
Rollout of Your Service Your Say at NSS
The NSS has begun the rollout of Your Service, Your Say – a new way of capturing more meaningful feedback from the people who use our services.
We welcome feedback and through YSYS we ensure that the people who contact us get a full response and that we will learn from what they have told us.
Introductory training in YSYS has been delivered to the NSS Call Centre teams. The information they gather will allow the NSS Complaints & Compliance team to deliver more meaningful feedback reports to management teams across the organisation.
The second phase of the rollout will begin in the coming months, when the team delivers training to all relevant NSS staff who are involved in capturing and managing feedback from our service users.
“We are delighted to roll out the YSYS policy throughout NSS,” Brenda Ryan, Head of Client Services said. “The processes and systems will support the staff who are already responding to, and managing feedback, in a way that is consistent. It will help us to work collaboratively with our community of service users to further build trust and confidence.”
Programme updates
You can find up-to-date information on all our programmes using the links below:
National Screening Service
BreastCheck - https://www2.hse.ie/breast-screening/
CervicalCheck - https://www2.hse.ie/cervical-screening/
BowelScreen - https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/bowel-screening/bowelscreening-information.html
Diabetic Retina Screen - https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/diabetic-retinascreening/diabetic-retina-screening.html
If you would like more information, or to make a suggestion or comment on any of the above, please contact the NSS communications team at communications@screeningservice.ie