Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
796. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement the recommendations of the Scally report by placing the National Screening Advisory Committee on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28160/22]
View answerI am pleased to update that significant progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of Dr Scally's Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme.
As of the end of March 2022, just three (3) of the 170 actions arising remained to be completed. All three (3) remaining actions are ‘in progress’, and further updates in completing these actions will be reported in the quarterly progress reports published by my Department.
I recently asked Dr Scally to conduct a final progress review of implementation of his recommendations, and this is now underway. Progressing this final review is in line with our Programme for Government commitments, including the advancement of the women’s health agenda.
Through the recommendations from his reports, Dr Scally has already made a considerable contribution to developments in our health system and ensuring Ireland has a robust screening service, which will enable our progress towards the ultimate goal of elimination of cervical cancer.
The establishment of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) in 2019 represented the implementation of relevant recommendations in Dr Scally's report.
Dr Scally had advised that Ireland should establish a National Screening Committee and provided a draft service specification for consideration within the report which was drawn from international best practice. The Committee was established in 2019, and set up with an eminently qualified chair, as well as a broad and diverse membership, including members representing the public voice. The approach taken here is closely aligned to the approach in the UK, where the national screening committee is also on a non-statutory footing.
The NSAC is now well established and recently published its second annual report which detailed significant progress in 2021. I was particularly pleased to see the level of public response to the Committee's first Annual Call for proposals, with a total of 53 submissions now undergoing consideration by this expert, independent committee.
The NSAC will publish its full work programme when it has finalised its assessment of all proposals received in the Annual Call 2021. However, I am pleased to note that the Committee has already made some decisions, including in relation to the existing national cancer screening programmes. Following submissions from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to look at the evidence for extending the age range for breast screening. It has also asked HIQA to look at the age range for bowel screening.
The Committee has made one recommendation to me so far in 2022, for the adoption of a clinical guideline in the BowelScreen programme, which was submitted to the Annual Call by the programme. I recently approved this recommendation which will be implemented by the BowelScreen programme.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the NSAC has been progressing work on this expansion.
I am pleased to report recent progress in this area with a ninth condition, ADA-SCID (Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) being added to the NBS programme on 23rd May 2022. This important development means that all newborn babies in Ireland will now be screened, as part of the ‘heel prick’ test, for this rare condition which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.
The NSAC has also commissioned HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) looking at the addition of other SCID types to the NBS programme. I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee on this condition after the HTA process is finalised later this year.
