Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health
CervicalCheck Screening Programme Update: Discussion (Resumed)
Dr. Colm Henry:
May I finish the point? With regard to England and Wales, the Deputy is absolutely correct that Public Health England has had guidance in place with regard to the communication of interval cancers since 2016. Cancer programmes in other healthcare systems, including those of Germany, France and Australia, have no active policy on open disclosure in respect of interval cancers because they are population screening programmes. There is a variation of opinion on this issue internationally. We want to design something which will enjoy public confidence and also allow the screening programmes to thrive.