Recording Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Status on Pathology Request Forms
The National Cancer Screening Register Rules 2017 require the following information to be collected about all individuals who undergo Cervical Screening Tests:
- Indigenous status
- Country of origin
- Preferred language
This information enables the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) to:
- Accurately measure and understand the screening participation rates and behaviours in these cohorts.
- Inform targeted strategies to increase the screening participation of individuals in these cohorts in order to reduce their rate of cervical cancer.
- Identify and record the cultural background of all patients which can assist providers to deliver culturally appropriate care.
- Record a patient’s preferred language and whether an interpreter is required.
- Support access to Indigenous-specific health interventions which are designed to overcome the health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people as per the Close the Gap initiative and the Close the Gap initiative refresh.
For all individuals, healthcare providers are encouraged to provide Indigenous status, country of origin, and preferred language where this can be included on pathology request forms.
Engaging Women with a Disabilitity in Cervical Screening
Women with a disability are a specific group who are less likely to participate in cervical screening, which can put them at a greater risk of developing cervical abnormalities.
To assist healthcare providers in engaging women with a disability in cervical screening, the Department of Health has developed a set of resources which cover topics such as:
- Strategies for effectively engaging women with a disability in cervical screening.
- Tips on how to conduct the Cervical Screening Test for women with a disability.
The resources including videos can be found on the National Cervical Screening Program website.
National Cancer Screening Register
A reminder that release two of the register is now live. Healthcare providers can contact the register for their patient’s cervical screening history regardless of which state or territory their test was performed in.
Healthcare providers can contact the register via the website or by calling 1800 627 701.
How You Can Support Your Patient’s Participation in the Register
Screening program participants, or their nominated personal representatives, can manage their personal information and participation in the Register by making the following requests:
- Cease contact and correspondence
- Defer screening
- Opt out of the Register
- Choose/nominate a pseudonym (all contact or correspondence sent by the Register on behalf of the NCSP will be addressed to the pseudonym rather than the legal name)
- Nominate a healthcare provider
- Change contact information
- Withdraw the above Register requests at any time
With their patient’s consent, a healthcare provider can also make the following requests to the Register on their patient’s behalf:
- Cease contact and correspondence
- Defer screening
- Opt out of the Register
- Withdraw the above Register requests at any time
Reminder to Update Recall and Reminder Systems to Reflect Changes to the National Cervical Screening Program
Healthcare providers should ensure their patient reminder and recall system are aligned with the new recommended commencement age for routine screening and screening intervals as outlined in the 2016 Guidelines.
The Register does not replace the relationship between the healthcare provider and their patients but is designed to provide support by maintaining complete patient records of all cervical screening and follow-up test results. It is also designed to act as a safety net, providing a backup to healthcare provider recall and reminder systems by notifying the appropriate time for a patient’s next test.
If healthcare providers’ clinical information systems (CIS) are not in alignment with the NCSP, we encourage you to contact your relevant CIS vendor.
For more information about the National Cervical Screening Program, please call 13 15 56.
Click here to visit the HealthPathway for Cervical Screening.
For a list of all localised pathways see:
Mid and North Coast Localised Pathways
Username:Â manchealth
Password:Â conn3ct3d
For further information about HealthPathways email [email protected] or [email protected].
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
