Putting equity at the heart of cancer screening
Ireland’s approach
HSE National Screening Service
Ireland’s HSE National Screening Service is taking action to make cancer screening more equitable – for everyone. Through our Choose Screening strategy, a dedicated Equity Framework and Equity Action Plan, Ireland is embedding equity in all aspects of its breast, cervical and bowel screening programmes. A digital portal brings this work together in one place, sharing tools, projects and learning with others across Europe.
Equity as a guiding principle
Ireland’s National Screening Service is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from cancer screening.
We put an equity lens on everything we do – from how services are designed and delivered, to how we communicate and engage with people. It’s a priority in our strategy – Choose Screening – Together we can make a difference – our roadmap to make screening more accessible, inclusive and effective.
We know that not everyone has the same opportunity to take part in screening. Barriers such as language, literacy, geography, disability, ethnicity, culture and socioeconomic disadvantage can all limit access. Our aim is to identify and remove these barriers, so that screening reaches the people who need it most.
A framework for improvement
To turn this ambition into action, we developed a Strategic Framework for Improving Equity in Screening (2023-2027). This framework sets out how we are embedding equity across our three population-based cancer screening programmes – BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and BowelScreen.
The framework is built around 5 priority areas. This structured approach helps us focus on the areas where action is needed to help us better understand and improve equity.
Turning strategy into action
Building on the framework, we developed an Equity Action Plan (2024-2025).
It sets out specific actions we are taking to improve equity – from strengthening partnerships with marginalised communities, to enhancing the accessibility of our information and services.
Sharing learning
To share what we are learning, and to support other countries who are developing or strengthening their own cancer screening programmes, we created a dedicated digital portal:
This online hub brings together information about our equity projects and initiatives across all 5 priority areas of our framework. It provides links to reports, research, case studies, tools and other resources – all from a single place.
Looking ahead
Ireland is committed to continuing to build more equitable cancer screening programmes where everyone has an opportunity to benefit from screening and early detection. Reducing health inequalities is a priority of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy (2017-2026).
Our work aligns closely with the goals of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EUCanScreen project, both of which aim to reduce the burden of cancer by improving early detection and achieving equity across the EU.
By embedding equity at the heart of our programmes, Ireland is helping to build a European screening landscape that is fairer and more inclusive for all.
Read more:
- Explore Ireland’s work on equity in screening: hse.ie/equityinscreening
- Learn about Ireland’s national action plan to eliminate cervical cancer
- Follow the HSE National Screening Service on X @NSShse, on LinkedIn and follow the hashtag #ChooseScreening
- The National Screening Service is part of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE). Keep up to date with our latest news at screeningservice.ie
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s EU4HEALTH Programme under the Grant Agreement no 101162959
