The National Screening Service, Dublin

Welcome to the National Screening Service Website The National Screening Service was established by the Minister for Health and Children in January 2007. The establishment followed the launch of a Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006 (pdf file), which advocates a comprehensive cancer control policy programme in Ireland. The Strategy examined prevention, screening, detection, treatment and management of cancer in Ireland in coming years and recommended the former Board of the National Screening Service. The National Screening Service (NSS) encompasses BreastCheck - The National Breast Screening Programme, CervicalCheck - The National Cervical Screening Programme, BowelScreen – The National Bowel Screening Programme and Diabetic RetinaScreen – The National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme. The former Board of the NSS also had a mandate that included a policy development and advisory role to the Minister for Health and Children relating to other potential cancer screening programmes. At the request of the Minister for Health and Children the former Board of the NSS undertook a review of the Human Papolloma Virus (HPV) vaccines and reviews of the rationale for the introduction of national population based bladder, prostate and lung cancer screening programmes. The NSS has also established an Expert Group on Hereditary Cancer Risk and has hosted the first ever interagency lung cancer research forum.