Implementing screening programmes

Abstract

This chapter gives the reader an understanding of the essential tasks involved in setting up a good quality screening programme. Newborn hearing screening is used as a case study. There is an old saying that all you have to do to create an effective service is choose the right things to do, then do them right. Choosing the right screening involves assessing the evidence and making policy. Doing screening right means setting up a well ordered programme for screening that is of value, ensuring that the service is always of high quality, dealing effectively with problems. It also means making sure that when there is no evidence that benefits would outweigh harms, then screening is vest avoided. Different health care systems have very different ways of planning, delivering, and funding their screening programmes. The chapter focuses on matters that are essential if screening is to achieve public health improvement - irrespective of where, and in what type of health system, it is being delivered.