By Fiona Murphy, Chief Executive, National Screening Service
We’ve published our 2024 end of year report outlining the progress we have made implementing our strategic plan, Choose Screening: Together we can make a difference. Our strategic and enabling priorities provide the framework through which we balance the immediate needs of our eligible population with ongoing improvements and transformative change.
Strong governance and robust quality assurance systems underpin the trust and confidence in our screening programmes. Our efforts ensure accountability and continuous improvement across all areas of our service.
As we reflect on our achievements and progress this past year it’s clear that our work is deeply rooted in our commitment to improving outcomes for all people who are eligible for screening. Each step forward, each new initiative, and each improvement to our screening programmes serves a singular purpose: to help prevent, reduce the risk of, and assist the early diagnosis of disease, ensuring better health and wellbeing for the people we serve.
The findings of the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) report, Breast, cervical and colorectal cancer 1994-2019: National trends for cancers with population-based screening programmes in Ireland, published in September 2022, provide undeniable evidence of the impact of our efforts. The landmark report underscores that a portion of the improvements in cancer prevention and detection is directly attributable to our population screening programmes - BowelScreen, BreastCheck and CervicalCheck. These programmes have played a pivotal role in increasing early diagnoses and reducing cancer-related deaths, reinforcing why we exist and the importance of our work.
The establishment of our Diabetic RetinaScreen programme just over a decade ago has been a significant milestone in the improvement of retinopathy detection and early treatment, contributing to the prevention of sight loss for people with diabetes. Screening 6,000 people in its first year in 2013, that number has grown to over 121,000 people with diabetes screened annually by 2023. Our latest initiative to provide priority eye screening for pregnant women with diabetes is an example of our commitment to improve accessibility.
Our focus on operational excellence ensures that we deliver high-quality, efficient, and safe services. Our commitment to quality assurance and efficiency is evident in the advancements made across our programmes. From introducing the modernised AIRE patient database system for BreastCheck to streamlining processes and enhancing our quality assurance framework, these improvements have reinforced our ability to meet the needs of our screening participants, while maintaining patient safety.
Service expansion and innovation are key to our strategy. Initiatives outlined in the report show that we are proactively adapting to meet future needs, introducing new technologies, and enhancing service delivery to improve access and outcomes. Leveraging data effectively is critical to improving outcomes and informing decision-making; and the report details how we are using data and information systems to strengthen our service delivery and enhance the efficiency and impact of our programmes.
Improving equity remains central to our mission. In 2024, we took significant steps to improve access to our screening programmes. Initiatives such as the community champions project and staff disability awareness training demonstrate our commitment to reducing barriers and addressing inequities, ensuring that our services reach those most in need.
By prioritising patient and public partnership, we have created meaningful opportunities for collaboration and representation. Our recruitment of diverse Patient and Public Partnership members and the elevation of patient advocate stories demonstrate how we centre the voices and experiences of those we serve.
Our staff are the backbone of our success. The dedication of our teams to work together and support each other when addressing and adapting to challenges is commendable and ensures that we reduce the impact of these challenges on our screening participants. We continue to strengthen workforce planning and development and demonstrate our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive culture, providing opportunities for growth and ensuring that our teams are equipped and supported to deliver excellence.
Collaboration with national and international partners amplifies the impact of our work. In 2024 we strengthened these partnerships, sharing our knowledge and expertise to help improve the efficiency of screening programmes across the EU and beyond.
Through the expansion of Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Partnership and the development of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2025-2030, we are advancing towards our vision for 2040 - to make cervical cancer rare in every community. This effort reflects the transformative potential of population health initiatives.
As we look ahead, our progress in 2024 reinforces the importance of our mission and vision. Our collective efforts are about lives saved and improved outcomes.
On behalf of the National Screening Service, I extend my thanks to our staff, partners and screening participants. Together, we are making a difference.