Cancer screening in Ireland#CervicalCheck

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BowelScreen is the national bowel cancer screening programme. It was launched in November 2012 by Minister for Health James Reilly, with the eventual aim of offering bi-annual scans to people ages 55 to 74.{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34177903.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112926/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34177903.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2018 |title=Colorectal Screening for Cancer Introduced |newspaper=The Irish Times |first=Paul |last=Cullen |date=29 January 2013 |accessdate=12 May 2018 }} It is offered every two years to residents of Ireland age 59 to 69.{{cite web|url=https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bowel-screening/screening-information/|title=Bowel screening - BowelScreen|date=10 October 2022|publisher=HSE}} The screening consists of an at-home stool test and, if a certain level of blood is found, a referral for a colonoscopy.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0402/1441209-bowel-cancer/|title=HSE urges those aged 59-69 to take free bowel cancer test|date=2 April 2024|website=RTE News}}

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BreastCheck is the national breast cancer screening programme. It was initially founded under Micheál Martin's tenure as Minister for Health and Children in October 2000 as a pilot in a limited number of health boards.{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24643096.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112929/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24643096.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2018 |title=Screening for cancer taken up by 73% of women |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=17 October 2004 |first=Alison |last=Healy }}{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60399375.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112736/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60399375.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2018 |title=Ten-Minute Test That Could Save Your Life; Mobile Screening Units Join Battle to Beat Breast Cancer |work=Irish Daily Mirror |date=30 March 1999 |first=Lynne |last=Kelleher}}{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73385642.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112952/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73385642.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2018 |title=Disease Kills 700 Irish Women Each Year |work=Irish Daily Mirror |date=19 April 2001 |first=Paul |last=Clarkson}} Over 70% of the women invited to take part in the screening in the first year, accepted.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings were temporarily suspended and the number of breast cancer-related procedures and diagnoses were greatly reduced.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/up-to-70-reduction-in-number-of-breast-cancer-checks-during-covid-19-says-professor-1.4288200|title=Up to 70% reduction in number of breast cancer checks during Covid-19, says professor|first=Vivienne|last=Clarke |newspaper=The Irish Times|date=25 June 2020}} This has led to concerns over the lasting effects of the pandemic, including healthcare capacity issues and delayed diagnoses.{{cite web|title=Concerns over pandemic disruption to cancer services|date=20 October 2021|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/1019/1254646-breastcheck-screening/|website=RTE News}}

{{As of|2024}}, free breast cancer screening is offered every two years to all women aged 50 to 67.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2019/0812/1068322-breastcheck-health/|title=BreastCheck cancer reviews 'outside' of standard audits|website=RTE News|date=12 August 2019|last=Bowers|first=Fergal}} Due to the pandemic, invitations for breast screening may be sent every three years instead of every two years.{{cite web|url=https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/breast-screening/information/|title=Breast screening information|date=3 November 2022|publisher=HSE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072943/https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/breast-screening/information/|archive-date=1 May 2024|url-status=live}}

CervicalCheck is the national cervical screening programme. It was launched in September 2008 as the public name of the National Cancer Screening Service.{{cite news |accessdate=12 May 2018 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/smear-fears-1.1213980 |title=Smear fears |date=20 May 2008 |newspaper=the Irish Times}} In May 2008, then chief executive officer Tony O'Brien dismissed claims that misdiagnoses would result from the use of US-based lab Quest Diagnostics.

{{main|CervicalCheck cancer scandal}}

In 2014, a woman presented with a confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer after a CervicalCheck test showed no abnormalities. On 26 April 2018, the HSE confirmed that 206 women developed cervical cancer after having a screening test which was subsequently deemed to be potentially inaccurate, given the known limitations of screening using smear technology.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/smear-test-scandal-206-women-develop-cancer-after-allclear-36850237.html |title=Smear test scandal: 206 women develop cancer after all-clear |work=Irish Independent |date=27 April 2018|accessdate=12 May 2018}} In May, HSE director-general Tony O'Brien took temporary leave of absence from the board of a US medical company amid renewed calls for him to stand aside from his position due to the ongoing controversy.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/hse-chief-tony-o-brien-to-take-leave-of-absence-from-us-board-1.3482685 |title=HSE chief Tony O'Brien to take leave of absence from US board |work=Irish Times |date=3 May 2015 |accessdate=12 May 2018}} Tony O'Brien announced his resignation as director-general of the HSE with effect from close of business on 11 May.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hse-boss-tony-obrien-steps-down-in-wake-of-cervicalcheck-scandal-36894958.html |title=HSE boss Tony O'Brien steps down in wake of CervicalCheck scandal |work=Irish Independent |date=10 May 2018 |accessdate=12 May 2018}}

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Category:Cancer screening

Category:Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland

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