BowelScreen,[1] BreastCheck[2] and CervicalCheck[3] are cancer screening programmes organised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the Republic of Ireland.
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 providing bi-annual screening to men and women aged 55–74.[4]
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.[5][6][7] Over 70% of the women invited to take part in the screening in the first year, accepted.[5]
CervicalCheck is the national cervical screening programme.[8] It was launched in September 2008 as the public name of the National Cancer Screening Service.[9] 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.[9]
Main article: CervicalCheck cancer scandal |
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 on lookback, once a woman presented with a confirmed diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and given the known limitations of screening using smear technology.[8] 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.[10] Tony O'Brien announced his resignation as director-general of the HSE with effect from close of business on 11 May.[11]