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About the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC)
From Department of Health
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The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is an independent advisory committee that advises the Minister and Department of Health on all new proposals for population based screening programmes and revisions to existing programmes.
The Committee plays a significant strategic role in the development and consideration of population-based screening programmes in Ireland.
The National Screening Advisory Committee does not have any operational role in the day to day running of any screening programmes. That remains the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Dr Suzanne Crowe was appointed by the Minister for Health as Chair of the Committee in July 2023, expressions of interest for membership of the Committee were sought by way of public advertisement.
The Chair and members are appointed as individuals to fulfil the Terms of Reference of the Committee, based on knowledge, experience and skills and not on institutional affiliation.
Chair of the National Screening Advisory Committee
Dr Suzanne Crowe, Consultant Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC)
National Screening Advisory Committee Members
- Ms Lora Ruth Wogu, Public Voice
- Dr Aoife Doyle, Consultant Histopathologist
- Dr Velma Harkins, General Practitioner, Offaly
- Professor Andrew Green, Consultant in Clinical Genetics and Professor of Medical Genetics, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital
- Dr James O’Mahony, Assistant Professor at the School of Economics at University College Dublin.
- Dr Irene Regan, Chief Medical Scientist, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital
- Dr Susan Kent, Professor Associate, Nursing, Midwifery, Community and Public Health, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University
- Dr Ellen Crushell, Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Temple Street, Children’s University Hospital and Our Lady’s Children Hospital
- Dr Paul Kavanagh, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE
- Prof. Michael Rigby, Professor Emeritus of Health Information Strategy, Keele University
- Dr Jenny Mc Sharry, School of Psychology, NUI Galway
- Ms Hilary McGouran , Former Deputy Managing Director, News and Current Affairs Division, RTÉ
- Prof. Deirdre Murray , Director of the National Cancer Registry, Ireland (NCRI) and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, University College Cork
- Ms Dolores Keane , Practicing Barrister, specialising in Medical Law
- Dr Alissa Connors , Clinical Director and Consultant Radiologist in the Southern Unit of BreastCheck
- Dr. Jonathan Briody , Health economist at the School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr Ronan Mahon , Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Economics, University of Galway
- Professor Maeve Eogan , Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Rotunda Hospital
- Mr Jonathan O'Grady , Public Voice
- Dr Fionnuala Gough , Lecturer in Medical Professionalism
Information on vacancies in the membership of the NSAC will be listed here.
National Screening Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
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Criteria for appraising the viability, effectiveness and appropriateness of a screening programme: October 2020
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The National Screening Advisory Committee can offer guidance on queries regarding any new proposals for population-based screening programmes and revision to existing programmes.
Please note that the National Screening Advisory Committee does not have any operational role in the day to day running of any screening programmes. Any queries or complaints should be directed to the relevant screening programme in the Health Service Executive (HSE).
You can contact us by email: NSAC_Secretariat@health.gov.ie
The NSAC Secretariat, which is provided by the Department of Health, supports the administration and operational business of the Committee, which generally meets three to four times a year.
The Secretariat can be contacted on NSAC_Secretariat@health.gov.ie