Breast screening register
If you’re a woman aged 50 to 69, your details should automatically be on our register. The Department of Social Protection gives us this information.
You can check if your name is on our register or update your details.
You can join our register if we do not have your name already. It takes around 5 minutes to register.
Your personal information
We collect and store some of your personal information to offer you screening.
This information includes your:
- name
- address
- phone number
- date of birth
- PPS number
- surname at birth
- mother's maiden name
- breast screening history
Your breast screening history can include:
- your test results
- breast clinic attendance
- treatments you have had
We will ask for your consent to hold and use this information each time you have a breast screen.
If you had a mammogram as a private patient, we do not hold this information. We're not able to access any information or results of tests you've had as a private patient.
How we use your information
We use your personal information to write to you.
We'll contact you when your:
- next breast screening test is due
- results are available
We also share your information with health services that provide follow-up care.
These include:
- your GP
- the lab which checks your biopsy result, if needed
- the hospital clinic where you get treatment if needed
- the National Cancer Registry Ireland, if needed
We do this to make sure we have an accurate record of your screening history.
Other ways we use your information
We use your information to make sure that BreastCheck:
- helps to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths
- performs in line with international best practice
We may use your information in teaching and reviewing the screening programme. This helps us to improve the programme.
Your name is never used in reports or reviews.
We keep your personal details and health records safe and confidential. This is part of our General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) obligations.
You have full access to your personal information and breast screening records. You can request these from us at any time.
How to access your breast screening records
Your rights under data protection law
Any research or study using your information does not affect your rights under data protection law.
Your data protection rights and the HSE data protection policy
If you have any questions, contact the HSE Data Protection Officer (DPO):
- Phone: 01 635 0359
- dpo@hse.ie
Contact your local data protection officer
Opting out
Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to opt out of the screening programme.
If you change your mind you can ring and ask to be put back on the list.