Welcome to our latest news summary featuring updates from across the National Screening Service. To keep up to date with our news, including upcoming events and job opportunities, read our news reports, follow us on X @NSShse, LinkedIn, and on Bluesky @nsshse.
Cervical Cancer Elimination action plan launched
The HSE’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2025-2030 was launched at an event in Dublin’s Epic museum on 15 November. The plan sets out the steps we will take to make cervical cancer rare in every community. Ireland publicly committed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in January 2023; one of the first countries in the world to do so. The action plan ensures we will remain on track to achieve elimination by Ireland’s target date of 2040.
Eliminating cervical cancer will be achieved through the joint effort of the HSE’s vaccination, cervical screening and treatment services, in partnership with communities.
Congratulating Ireland on the launch of plan, Director-General of the WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X: “Congratulations, #Ireland, on launching your national #CervicalCancer elimination plan! @WHO stands with you on this Day of Action, and we are ready to support you on your elimination journey. All countries can achieve the 90-70-90 targets. Let's leave the next generation with a world free of cervical cancer.”
You can hear more about the action plan on the HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing podcast, Together Towards Cervical Cancer Elimination, on YouTube and Spotify, featuring our Director of Public Health Dr Caroline Mason Mohan and Catherine Heaney from Dublin City Community Cooperative. You can read more in our news report about the role of inclusive stakeholder engagement in cervical cancer elimination.
AIRE: modernised patient database system improves breast screening services
We have introduced a modernised patient database system to our BreastCheck programme called AIRE (Assessment, Information, Record & Evaluation). We aim to use our new system to simplify our workflows, allowing our BreastCheck team to focus more on direct patient care. With AIRE, we can access real-time data to track each screening participant’s journey and address any gaps in service delivery.
We have developed AIRE in line with the HSE Digital Health Strategy, which aims to improve health services for both patients and staff, making them more modern and easier to access. The strategy outlines that the first key step to providing fully integrated care is to create digital systems that support it.
AIRE went live on 20 May 2024, and we are already seeing the benefits of the system. It is enabling us to follow each woman on the screening pathway, and it is reducing our administrative tasks, and creating less reliance on paper.
CervicalCheck conference fosters partnerships in cervical screening
Over 230 cervical screening professionals gathered at the Limerick Strand Hotel for the CervicalCheck conference, Fostering partnerships in cervical screening, on 19 October.
Welcoming the delegates, CervicalCheck Programme Manager Gráinne Gleeson highlighted that it was the first time that partners across the cervical screening pathway have come together for a day of learning, discussion, collaboration and reflection.
CervicalCheck Clinical Director Prof Nóirín Russell shared data from the first three years of primary HPV cervical screening in Ireland, showing how cervical screening and treatment has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in Ireland. “Combined with HPV vaccination we will reduce it further,” she said. “Ireland is on track to eliminate cervical cancer.”
Over 30 poster presentations showcased attendees’ work in quality improvement, building partnerships and equity in screening. Read more about the conference.
Diabetic retina screening during pregnancy highlighted in Irish Independent
In a piece in the Irish Independent on 4 November, mum-of-two Vicky Williams discussed the service that began in 2023, when DRS began offering convenient additional screening for mums-to-be living with types 1 and 2 diabetes.
The additional screening offered to women during pregnancy involves checking their eyes twice for any early signs of changes. These changes, if left untreated, can affect their sight. Since the start of service, 686 pregnant women have had additional eye screenings.
Read about this equity-driven eye screening initiative for women with diabetes, and in Vicky’s story.
New representatives join our Patient and Public Partnership following recruitment campaign
Four new representatives joined our Patient and Public Partnership panel following a successful recruitment campaign. Our new representatives come with a wide range of experience including working with young adults in the homeless services; teaching; and law.
With the help of our new and existing reps, we will continue to strengthen patient involvement across our organisation, improving our screening programmes.
More news in brief
Here is some more news we reported recently:
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