BowelScreen, [1] BreastCheck [2] and CervicalCheck [3] are cancer screening programmes organised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland.
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BowelScreen is the national bowel cancer screening programme. [1] 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. [4] It is offered every two years to residents of Ireland age 59 to 69. [5] The screening consists of an at-home stool test and, if a certain level of blood is found, a referral for a colonoscopy. [6]
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BreastCheck is the national breast cancer screening programme. [2] 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. [7] [8] [9] Over 70% of the women invited to take part in the screening in the first year, accepted. [7]
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. [10] This has led to concerns over the lasting effects of the pandemic, including healthcare capacity issues and delayed diagnoses. [11]
As of 2024 [update] , free breast cancer screening is offered every two years to all women aged 50 to 67. [12] Due to the pandemic, invitations for breast screening may be sent every three years instead of every two years. [13]
CervicalCheck is the national cervical screening programme. [14] It was launched in September 2008 as the public name of the National Cancer Screening Service. [15] 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. [15]
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. [14] 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. [16] Tony O'Brien announced his resignation as director-general of the HSE with effect from close of business on 11 May. [17]
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