We’ve published a guide to support carers in helping the people they care for to take part in screening. It’s part of our work to improve equity in screening and to support all eligible people to access screening.
We developed the guide in response to one of the recommendations from our disability needs assessment report which was to develop information and educational materials targeted at disabled people, their caregivers and family members, to include information about our screening programmes and what to expect.
We consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including our staff, our Public and Patient Partnership representatives, Care Alliance Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, disability advocates and service providers to develop the guide.
We know that it’s not easy for everyone to take part in screening. There are barriers that can prevent some people from taking part such as the physical layout of a building, the sensitive nature of screening tests, and the complexities involved with consent. This guide aims to help break down some of these barriers.
The guide will help carers and the people they support to:
- understand what screening programmes are available and who is eligible to take part in them
- understand and explain our screening programmes to others
- support people to make their own decisions about taking part in screening
- register people for screening
- provide practical guidance to us about how we can make screening more accessible
- contact our screening programmes if additional supports are needed.
Tara O’Connor from Care Alliance Ireland said: “We were keen to collaborate with the HSE National Screening Service on this project and are delighted to see the launch of this resource during National Carers Week. We are confident that it will help to make the service more accessible for both family carers and those they care for".
The guide is available to download from our website.
- For queries about this resource, email health.promotion@screeningservice.ie
- Read more about our work to improve equity in screening: www.hse.ie/equityinscreening