Health professionals

Past Webinars

Enhancing Cervical Screening: Cervical Visual Assessment Guide

Date: 12 March 2025

Speaker: Prof Nóirín Russell, CervicalCheck Clinical Director

Aim: To enhance your competency in cervical assessment and gain insight into familiar anomalies of the cervix.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the anatomy and physiology of the female genitalia.
  • Become familiar with the anatomical landmarks of the cervix relating to screening.
  • Understand the process of metaplasia and importance of sampling the transformation zone (Tz).
  • Become familiar with anomalies of the cervix.
  • Understand referral pathways for cases of abnormal bleeding and suspicion of cervical cancer.
  • Be aware of the educational resources available to sample takers.

Clinical Information on the HPV Vaccination

Date: 25 February 2025

Speaker: Dr Eimear Hayes & Dr Alice Quinn, Senior Medical Officers, National Immunisation Office

Aim: To understand HPV vaccination available through the School Immunisation Programme and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Guidance on HPV vaccination.

Learning Outcomes:

  • To describe the current HPV vaccination programme.
  • To describe the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Advice on HPV vaccination including recommendations for groups for vaccination, vaccine schedule, contraindications, precautions and adverse reactions.
  • To evaluate the benefits of HPV vaccination including the benefits of HPV vaccination for boys.
  • To describe HSE National Immunisation Office Resources for HPV vaccination.

The Backbone of Screening: Public Health's guiding role in advancing CervicalCheck Practice

Date: 4 December 2024

Speaker: Dr Caroline Mason Mohan Director of Public Health

Aim: The role of Public Health in the national Screening programme with Particular emphasis on Cervical Screening.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal role of Public Health within the framework of four National Screening programmes.
  • Explore the latest advancements and research in self-sampling methodologies for screening and understand their significance in enhancing accessibility and participation.
  • Learn how to effectively implement components of the NSS Equity Strategy within your practice to ensure equitable access and outcomes for all population groups.
  • Discuss the Community Champions project and its impact on enhancing community engagement, awareness, and participation in CervicalCheck initiatives.
  • Delve into the Cancer Elimination Project, understanding its objectives, strategies, and contributions towards reducing the burden of cancer through proactive screening and prevention measures.

Promoting sexual wellbeing: encouraging open conversations

Date: 13 November 2024

Speaker: Prof Fiona Lyons, Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine, HSE Clinical Lead in Sexual Health

Aim: To promote awareness and acceptance of sexual health, with a specific focus on cervical screening, as an integral part of our overall health throughout our lifetime by fostering open conversations.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Be aware of the National Sexual Health Strategy and its key priorities.
  • Have greater awareness that people are sexual beings through their life course and have needs with regard to sexual health.
  • To encourage open and honest dialogue to promote positive sexual health and cervical screening and create a safe space for discussions.
  • To encourage and enable health care providers to incorporate sexual health promotion and open discussion on screening requirements.
  • To empower individuals to protect and enhance their own sexual wellbeing by delivery of evidence-based information by health care professionals.

Exploring common themes in patient feedback to identify improvement opportunities to the provision of a quality cervical screening service

Date: 2 October 2024

Speaker: Ms Laura Tobin, Deputy Programme Manager, CervicalCheck

Aim: To understand the common patient feedback received to the programme and how contractual obligations are key to supporting a high quality service.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn the criteria and procedures for initiating and terminating a contract with CervicalCheck, including necessary documentation and quality standards to meet before commencing services.
  • Understand the significance of ensuring all sample takers are registered under each Clinical Responsible Doctor (CRD)/Clinical Lead, they perform screening tests for, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining accountability.
  • Explore the education requirements for sample takers, including ongoing training and professional development initiatives to stay updated with current guidelines and advancements in cervical screening.
  • Recognise the pivotal role of sample takers in delivering a high-quality cervical screening service, including their responsibilities of checking eligibility, providing patient education and support decision-making to choose screening.
  • Understand the procedures and protocols for dispatching screening tests, result letters, and implementing failsafe measures to minimise errors and ensure the reliability of the screening process.
  • Emphasise the importance of ensuring all staff are aware that cervical screening should be offered within their practice, regardless of whether the individual seeking screening is a patient of the practice.


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