Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

CervicalCheck Screening Programme Update: Discussion

Mr. Damien McCallion:

On the cancer audit, this is a very important part of the overall quality assurance of the programme. There are other elements as well that we need to focus on while that expert group is working. I mentioned earlier the appointment of the laboratory quality assurance, QA, lead in strengthening that. There are other indicators that are monitored by the quality assurance within the programme in relation to colposcopy, laboratory, and even things like in GP practice, and so on. The Deputy is right that elements need to be strengthened, as Dr. Scally identified, and that is what we are trying to do. Entering the cancer audit is just one part of the overall circle of quality.