Unravelling Cervical Screening Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Date: 19 March 2024
Speaker: Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Primary Care Advisor, CervicalCheck
Aim: To explain the eligibility framework for CervicalCheck and discuss the rationale for special clinical circumstances which require alternative screening intervals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the rationale for the eligibility criteria and screening intervals
- Recognise additional screening needs and exceptions
- Understand the circumstances where cervical screening is not recommended
- Be aware of the appropriate time intervals for repeat testing and post-pregnancy, and the rationale for this
- Consider various clinical scenarios, and recognise and manage situations which may fall outside of the eligibility framework.
Cervical screening for menopausal women
Date: 06 March 2024
Speaker: Dr Ciara McCarthy - ICGP/HSE GP Clinical Lead in Women’s Health
Aim: To explore the unique challenges and considerations of offering cervical screening to women over 50 years of age, with a particular focus on understanding menopausal symptoms and their impact on screening.
Learning Outcomes:
- To recognise genito-urinary syndrome (GSM) symptoms associated with menopause
- To identify the cervical screening challenges in the menopause and to offer practical advice on how to manage these challenges
- To recognise the importance of promotion of screening in the over 50s.
Navigating life after an HIV diagnosis: Expert guidance and support
Date: 6 February 2024
Speaker: Prof Fiona Lyons, Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine, HSE Clinical Lead in Sexual Health
Aim: To understand the impact of an HIV diagnosis on a person’s cervical screening needs.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain understanding of the prevalence of HIV in both Ireland and on a global scale
- BIdentify the diagnosis pathway for HIV and recognise the importance of early detection
- Understand the impact of HIV infection on HPV transmission and persistence
- Demonstrate improved knowledge of HIV-related health issues, with a particular focus on the importance of cervical screening for individuals living with HIV, and the available support services.
Cervical Cancer: Exploring Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies
Date: 24 January 2024
Speaker: Dr Michael O’Leary, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, GUH
Aim: To empower attendees with knowledge and insights to enhance their ability to recognise symptoms and signs of cervical cancer, and to refer appropriately for diagnosis and treatment, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and the reduction of cervical cancer's impact on women's health.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain a deep understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, and the global burden of cervical cancer
- Be aware of different types of cervical cancer and the staging classification of cervical cancer
- Examine the range of treatment modalities for cervical cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and understand the factors influencing treatment choice.
- Explore emerging targeted therapies and providing insights into the latest advancements and their potential impact on outcomes
- Recognise the significance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing cervical cancer cases, and understand the roles of different healthcare professionals in providing holistic care.
An overview of Cervical Screening Quality Assurance Guidelines: What this means for sampletakers? - 6 December 2023
Speakers:
- Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Primary Care Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
- Ms Laura Tobin, Deputy Programme Manager, CervicalCheck
Aim: To provide an overview of Cervical screening Quality Assurance guidelines, which include Programme management, Primary Care and Laboratory Guidelines.
Learning Outcomes:
- To be aware of CervicalCheck Quality Assurance guidelines
- To understand how the Quality Assurance guidelines guide your practice in maintaining a high-quality cervical screening standard
- To understand the different reporting functions that CervicalCheck monitors and how sampletakers can meet these standards.
Frequently Asked Questions in Cervical Screening - 22 November 2023
Speakers:
- Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Primary Care Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
- Dr Laura Heavey, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, National Screening Service
Aim: To address commonly asked questions that CervicalCheck receives in relation to cervical screening.
Learning Outcomes:
- Be aware of the most common questions received by the CervicalCheck teams
- Understand the programme’s evidence-base for its criteria and protocols
- Know where to find answers to common queries
- Have clearer understanding of CervicalCheck’s policies, protocols and guidelines on various clinical and administrative topics.
Overview of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – 17 October 2023
Speaker: Dr Catriona Henchion, Medical Director of the Irish Family Planning Association
Aim: To give an overview of Female Genital Mutilation and the considerations to cervical screening.
Learning Outcomes:
- To recognise the anatomy of the vulva
- To understand what FGM is and the legislation in Ireland
- Explore strategies to provide a positive cervical screening experience for women who have FGM
- To be aware of referral pathways and specialist services that may be required.
Cervical Screening for post-menopausal women – 26 September 2023
Speaker: Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Primary Care Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
Aim: To explain the eligibility framework for CervicalCheck and discuss the rationale for special clinical circumstances which require alternative screening intervals.
Panel speakers:
- Dr Johnny Price, Colposcopy Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
- Laura Tobin, Deputy Programme Manager, CervicalCheck
An overview of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including testing approaches, 6 September 2023
Speaker: Prof Fiona Lyons, Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine, HSE Clinical Lead in Sexual Health
Aim: To explain the eligibility framework for CervicalCheck and discuss the rationale for special clinical circumstances which require alternative screening intervals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Define what an STI is
- Be aware of the incidence of bacterial and viral STIs in the Irish context
- Understand ways how STI transmission can be reduced
- Examine how common STIs can be treated
- Be aware of specialist referral pathways
CervicalCheck Eligibility Framework and Special Screening Circumstances – 23 August 2023
Speaker: Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Primary Care Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
Aim: To explain the eligibility framework for CervicalCheck and discuss the rationale for special clinical circumstances which require alternative screening intervals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Be aware of the eligibility criteria for participation in CervicalCheck screening
- Know the screening intervals for different age groups
- Understand the circumstances where additional screening is required
- Understand the circumstances where cervical screening is not recommended
- Be aware of the appropriate time intervals for repeat testing and post-pregnancy, and the rationale for this
- Consider various clinical scenarios, and recognise and manage situations which may fall outside of the eligibility framework
Overview of Colposcopy Care – 17 July 2023
Speaker: Ms Charlene Bogan, cANP Women’s Health, Letterkenny University Hospital
Aim: To gain understanding of the colposcopy referral, treatment and follow-up process.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the principles of colposcopy and the importance of appropriate referral pathways
- Be familiar with the treatments offered in colposcopy
- Be informed on the advice given to women after treatments and the complications that may develop
Role and Function of Ambulatory Gynaecology Service – 14 June 2023
Speaker: Ms Jean Coffey, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP), Rotunda Hospital, Dublin
Aim: To understand the role and function of ambulatory gynae services.
Learning Outcomes:
- Be familiar with the ambulatory gynae model in Ireland
- Understand the referral pathways and timelines
- Explore the different procedures undertaken (diagnostic) and follow-up care
Focus on the Cervix – 7 June 2023
Speaker: Dr John Price, Colposcopy Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
Aim: To understand the management of cervical anomalies and their appropriate referral pathways.
Learning Outcomes:
- To recognise the normal cervix and anomalies of the cervix
- To understand how to manage anomalies of the cervix (e.g. how to manage polyps) and abnormal symptoms (e.g. intermenstrual bleeding /postcoital bleeding) and if referral is needed
- To recognise the suspicious cervix and how to refer appropriately
Trauma-Informed Care and Cervical Screening – 15 May 2023
Speaker: Ms Connie McGilloway - Clinical Nurse Specialist – Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, Donegal
Aim: To understand the principles of trauma informed care when providing cervical screening to a woman who has experience a previous sexual assault.
Learning Outcomes:
- To understand the widespread impact of trauma and how this may affect cervical screening
- Recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma
- Be aware of the principles of trauma informed care and actively avoid re-traumatisation
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Ambulatory Gynaecology Services in Ireland – 20 March 2023
Speaker: Dr Cliona Murphy, Clinical Lead for the National Women and Infants Health Programme
Aim: To be aware of the models of care for ambulatory gynae services and future plans for the delivery of gynae services.
Learning Outcomes:
- To understand the role and function of ambulatory gynae and how this will be implemented in Ireland
- Be aware of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in ambulatory gynae
- To explore the key objectives for 2023 in line with the NWIHP strategy/HSE Service plan 2023
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service and gynaecology service.
Personal cervical screening reviews - March 2023
Aim: To understand personal cervical screening reviews.
Learning Outcomes:
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Facilitator:
- Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon – Primary Care Advisor, CervicalCheck
Menopause & Cervical Screening - 7th March 2023
Aim: To increase awareness and knowledge on the effect of perimenopause and menopause on cervical screening and promote a positive screening experience.
Learning Outcomes:
- To recognise the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and how these symptoms may affect screening
- To explore what hormone replacement treatments and local oestrogen are available to women experiencing symptoms such as vaginal dryness
- To recognise the importance of using every opportunity to promote screening in the over 50’s.
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Facilitator:
- Dr Deirdre Lundy, Clinical Lead, Complex Menopause Service, the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St., Dublin
HPV Vaccination in Ireland – What you need to know 2023 - Update – Wednesday, 1 March
Aim: To be aware of the HPV vaccination schedule in Ireland and the catch-up campaign.
Learning Outcomes:
- To be familiar with the changes to the HPV vaccination schedule in Ireland and the catch-up campaign
- To understand the rationale for the one dose primary HPV vaccination recommendation
- To be able to advise people aged between 25-45 on HPV vaccination
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Facilitators:
- Dr Treasa Kelleher – Specialist in Public Health Medicine, National Immunisation Office (NIO)
- Dr Laura Heavey – Specialist in Public Health Medicine- National Screening Service (NSS)
Providing cervical screening services to women with Intellectual Disabilities - 22 February 2023
Aim: To enhance the screening experience for women with intellectual disabilities while ensuring informed consent.
Learning Outcomes:
- communication and environmental needs of women with ID in service provision
- and be able to discuss good practice in providing cervical screening to women with Intellectual disability
- how to support sampletakers provide services to women with intellectual disabilities
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Facilitators:
- Ms Avril Keating – RNID, Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Registered Nurse Prescriber
- Ms Geraldine O’Callaghan – RNID, Candidate Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Ms Danielle Creedon – RNID, Clinical Nurse Manager 2
HPV Latency & Infection - 25 January 2023
Aim: To improve understanding and awareness of latent/” dormant” HPV
Learning Outcomes:
- What latent HPV means
- Interval screening and detection of latent HPV
- Why latent HPV reactivates
- What are the clinical implications of latent HPV
Target Audience: All healthcare professionals that are involved in providing a high-quality cervical screening service.
Speakers:
Dr Judi Lynch - Clinical Microbiologist, Aspire clinical fellow in HPV screening for cervical cancer.
Assessing barriers and best practice in providing cervical screening to autistic people - Wednesday 11 January 2023
The presenter is Dr Mary Doherty - Founder of Autistic Doctors International & Autistic Med Students and Consultant Anaesthetist, Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan
An overview of Colposcopy care: What to tell women being referred and receiving care - Wednesday 15 December 2022
Aim: To gain an understanding of the Colposcopy process
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the principles of colposcopy and the importance of appropriate referral pathways
- Be aware of what to tell women attending colposcopy
- Be familiar with the treatments offered in colposcopy
- Be informed on the advice given to women after treatments and the complications that may develop
Target Audience: All healthcare staff (including admin staff) involved in delivering quality assured Cervical Screening Service.
Speakers:
Ms Charlene Brogan – RANP Ambulatory Gynae and Colposcopy Letterkenny University Hospital
Overview of CervicalCheck Programme: Webinar for Administrative Support Staff - 07 December 2022
Aim: To provide an overview of the cervical screening process to ensure clear understanding of the journey of a sample from primary care to laboratory and the management of results and referrals to colposcopy.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand what screening is and the information needed to book a cervical screening appointment.
- Be aware how and why a cervical screening test is taking.
- Be familiar with what happens in cervical screening laboratories and colposcopy.
Target Audience: Admin and support staff that are involved in delivering quality assured Cervical Screening Service.
Speakers:
Ms Debbie Ramsbottom, Senior Training Coordinator, Screening Training Unit
Dr Dave Nuttall, Clinical Laboratory Advisor, CervicalCheck
Ms Charlene Brogan – RANP Ambulatory Gynae and Colposcopy, Letterkenny University Hospital
Supporting the Trans community to participate in Cervical Screening - 30 November 2022
Aim: To understand the sensitivities and be aware of the strategies to adapt in practice to promote cervical screening in the transgender community.
Learning Outcomes:
- To understand the barriers and hesitations to cervical screening among trans men and non-binary people with a cervix.
- Be aware of appropriate language and techniques to improve the cervical screening consultation and sampletaking experience.
Target Audience: All healthcare staff (including admin staff) involved in delivering quality assured cervical screening service.
Speakers:
Noah Halpin – Healthcare Officer, Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)
Ms Debbie Ramsbottom - Senior Training Coordinator STU, CervicalCheck LGBT+, and access officer.
Increasing participation in Cervical Screening in Primary Care - 26 October 2022
The aim of this webinar is to understand what primary care can do to increase participation in cervical screening.
Learning Outcomes:
- To understand strategies for increasing participation in cervical screening in primary care
- To review who may need extra support in your practice
- To consider difficult scenarios
- To review case studies about interventions in primary care practices that increased participation
Target Audience: All healthcare staff (including admin staff) involved in delivering quality assured cervical screening service.
Speaker: Ms Lynn Swinburne– Senior Health Promotion Officer, Public Health NSS.
LGBT+ awareness for Cervical Screening - webinar on 12 October 2022
The aim of this webinar is to develop confidence in offering cervical screening to lesbian and bisexual (LB) women and LGBTI+ people with a cervix based on the NSS Cervical Screening report “To examine the knowledge, attitudes, participation, and experiences of lesbian and bisexual women, trans men, non-binary, and intersex people with a cervix in cervical screening in Ireland”
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop an awareness of NSS LGBT+ Cervical Screening study findings.
- Introduction to terminology and appropriate language.
- Introduction to the concept of “heteronormativity”
Target Audience: All healthcare staff (including admin staff) involved in delivering quality assured Cervical Screening Service.
Speakers: Ms Ciara Mulcahy Linehan – Community Health Worker LINC and Ms Debbie Ramsbottom - Senior Training Coordinator STU and CervicalCheck LGBT+ Access Officer
What is Screening? What the public needs to know - webinar on 12 September 2022.
The aim of this seminar is to improve understanding of the benefits, limitations and possible harms associated with cervical screening so that you can explain key messages about cervical screening to women/the public.
Learning Outcomes:
- Participants understand the screening pathway and how a screening programme is organised
- Participants have knowledge of the benefits, limitations and possible harms associated with cervical screening
- Participants can explain key messages about cervical screening to their patients/the public
Target Audience: All healthcare staff (including admin staff) involved in a delivering quality assured cervical screening service.
The speaker is Dr Laura Heavey, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, National Screening Service
The Cervix: Recognising the Normal and Abnormal Cervix, webinar on 24 August 2022
Aim: For participants to be familiar with the most common cervical anomalies and what may require further investigation, and to understand referral pathways to colposcopy.
Intended learning outcomes:
- Understand the anatomy and physiology of the cervix
- Be able to identify the transformation zone and the squamocolumnar junction
- Understand the importance of why the sample taker needs full visibility of the cervix
- Understand the rationale for why we sample the transformation zone
- Be familiar with the most common anomalies and those that require further investigation
- Understand referral pathways to colposcopy
- Be able to identify cervical cancer
Target Audience: All sample takers that are involved in delivering a high-quality cervical screening service
Facilitator: Dr John Price, Colposcopy Clinical Advisor, CervicalCheck
Sampletaking in non-primary screening settings: Gynae, Colposcopy, GUM and SATU, 10 August 2022
Information: This 40-minute webinar is presented by Education and Training Manager at CervicalCheck Dr Rachael Comer and Senior Training Co-ordinator at CervicalCheck Debbie Ramsbottom. Dr Rachael Comer, provides information about the cervical screening programme and health care professionals website; and Debbie Ramsbottom presents on sample taking in non-primary screening settings to the CervicalCheck screening programme.
Aim: To understand the roles and responsibility of the sample taker and clinical lead in the non-primary care setting
Intended learning outcomes:
- The structure of the CervicalCheck screening programme
- The rationale for HPV Cervical Screening
- Screening intervals and rationale for same
- The CervicalCheck Eligibility Framework
- How to take a quality cervical screening test
- How to fill the cervical screening form
- The role as a sample taker working in non-primary care settings
Target audience: All healthcare professionals that provide a quality cervical screening service in Gynae, Colposcopy, GUM and SATU
Know your role, webinar for sampletakers and doctors, 13 July 2022
Information: This 54-minute webinar is presented by Education and Training Manager at CervicalCheck Dr Rachael Comer and Senior Training Co-ordinator at CervicalCheck Debbie Ramsbottom. Dr Rachael Comer, provides information about the cervical screening programme structure; and Debbie Ramsbottom presents on 'Know your role' of a sampletaker to the CervicalCheck screening programme.
Aim: To understand the role and responsibilities of the sampletaker and Clinically Responsible Doctor (CRD) in primary care
Intended learning outcomes:
- The structure of the CervicalCheck screening programme
- The rationale for HPV cervical screening
- Screening intervals and rationale for same
- The CervicalCheck Eligibility Framework
- How to take a quality cervical screening test
- How to fill in the cervical screening form
- The role of a sampletaker in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme
Target audience: All healthcare professionals working in primary care that are involved in delivering a high-quality cervical screening service
Cervical Cancer Treatments and Support, webinar on 22 June 2022
Information: This 54-minute webinar is introduced by Primary Care Clinical Advisor at CervicalCheck, Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon. Clinical Nurse Specialist in gynaecology/oncology Sarah Belton provides an update in cervical cancer treatments and support; and HSE National Clinical Lead in psycho-oncology Helen Greally presents on ‘Transforming Psycho-Oncology & Survivorship Services in Ireland’.
Aim: To provide clinical updates on cervical cancer treatments and support
Intended learning outcomes:
- To provide updates on treatment and recent changes to practice in cervical cancer care
- To review the NCCP survivorship programme and how this applies to cervical cancer
- To introduce thisisgo.iefor patients and HCPs
Target audience: All healthcare professionals who are involved in delivering a high-quality cervical screening service.
Heading: HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer, webinar on 13 June 2022
This webinar for National Screening Service (NSS) staff on the HSE Consent Policy (2022) was introduced by Lynn Swinburne, Senior Health Promotion Officer with the NSS, and delivered by Marie Tighe, Project Manager, National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy.
Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon's presentation explains:
- Natural history & development of cervical cancer
- Role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the aetiology & pathogenesis of cervical cancer
- Effective communication around what it means to have HPV infection
- Normalising HPV infection
- Encouraging women from under-served population groups to engage with screening
- Prevalence of cervical cancer
- Invasive cervical cancer outcomes
Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon is Primary Care Clinical Advisor at CervicalCheck.
Webinar on the national consent policy – 19 May 2022
This webinar for National Screening Service (NSS) staff on the HSE Consent Policy (2022) was introduced by Lynn Swinburne, Senior Health Promotion Officer with the NSS, and delivered by Marie Tighe, Project Manager, National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy.
This webinar looked at:
- The principles to be applied when considering a person’s decision-making capacity to provide consent
- What is decision-making capacity?
- When a person’s capacity to make a decision is in question
- Making decisions if a person lacks decision-making capacity
- What can staff do to support consent/decision making?
Webinar on the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 - 3 December 2021
Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service, explains how the screening service can prepare to implement the Assisted Decision Making (ADM) Act, to support decision-making and maximising a person’s capacity to make decisions.
The presentation invites viewers to consider:
- How will the act apply to screening?
- Consent procedures for all programmes,
- How we interact with service users with accessibility or communication challenges
- Dealing with next-of-kin
- Communication with representatives or support persons
- How we might assess capacity in each of the four screening programmes.
HPV cervical screening - November 2021
HPV cervical screening is a new way of screening. It was introduced in Ireland in March 2020.
It first looks to see if a person has any of the high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that may cause cervical cancer.
If HPV is found, their same test sample will be checked for abnormal cells.
HPV cervical screening:
- is a better way of cervical screening
- prevents more cancers
- means some people will have fewer tests
Find out more about HPV cervical screening
Laboratories Webinar, CervicalCheck - 28 June 2021
Here are the five presentations that were shown during the webinar.
Cervical screening / colposcopy webinar - 26 February 2021
CervicalCheck Annual Colposcopy Meeting with Nursing and Medical teams, 26 February 2021
CervicalCheck organised a half-day training meeting online on 26 February 2021. The purpose of the training was to enable nursing and medical teams update their knowledge of the screening programme, and to provide them with opportunities to have their questions about cervical screening addressed by experts in the programme and beyond.
Cervical screening webinars - 17 & 24 February 2021
Cervical screening from Public Health to Clinical Outcomes, training webinars for smeartakers, 17 & 24 February 2021.
CervicalCheck organised two hour-long webinars, designed to be an introduction to the new HPV cervical screening programme. Click here to meet some of the CervicalCheck team and to learn about the different aspects of the programme.
Full playlist can be found here