Purpose and Functions

As the national repository for information relating to cervical screening events, the NCSP-Register is a key component of the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP). The function of the register is prescribed under Part 4A, Section 112F(2) of the Health Act: every result that is reported to the NCSP from a screening test, or from a diagnostic test, must be recorded on the NCSP Register, if that result relates to a woman who is enrolled in the NCSP.

The National Screening Unit of the Ministry of Health in Wellington holds this information securely. Only authorised personnel have access to information stored on the NCSP Register. Under Part 4A of the Health Act information can only be provided outside the Programme to health practitioner(s) and/or evaluators or a review committee appointed by the Minister of Health to evaluate the Programme.

The purpose of the register should be understood in the broader context of the NCSP to a) reduce the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer and b) enable access to information by those operating or evaluating the Programme.

The register supports the NCSP in the following ways:

• provides screening histories to support smear takers, laboratories and colposcopists in their provision of screening services to women
• generates confirmation to women who have enrolled (or have cancelled their enrolment) in the Programme
• provides a backup service to General Practitioners by generating overdue screening test letters and screening test result letters to women
• provides statistical data for monitoring and evaluation of the Programme
  

More information on the NCSP Programme is available on this website.

Information Supplied to the Register

Information supplied to the register comes from a variety of sources, including smear takers and Programme participants. In terms of volumes of information, the two most important sources of information are a) laboratories, where screening test specimens are analysed and b) colposcopy services, where colposcopy procedures are performed. Both agencies are required by the Health Act (Part 4A, Sections112M-112N) to report results from these procedures to the NCSP Register free of charge and in a manner prescribed by the Director General.

A New NCSP Register

The new NCSP Register went live as scheduled on the morning of 29 September 2008. It is expected that the new register will strengthen quality assurance for the programme and enable secure real-time communications with service providers and other key stakeholders. The key to improved communications is the adoption of Health Level 7 Ver 2.4, which is an international standard for electronic healthcare specific data exchange between computer applications. We hope to have laboratories and District Health colposcopy clinics communicating via this standard by 1 Jul 2009.

We are also working on further developments and improvements in terms of reports generated by the new Register. Regular updates on this and other matters will be provided at through targeted e-mail communication to service providers and this website.

The new register has resulted in changes for Regional Services, Laboratories and Colposcopy Services. 

Register Facts and Figures

• the register contains secure screening history information for more than 1.4 million women
• more than 40,000 women are added to the register each year
• more than 300,0000 screening histories are supplied from the register to service providers each year to assist with diagnoses
• more than 400,000 colposcopy and screening test results are uploaded into the register each year
• more than 350,000 letters are generated each year to women participating in the Programme.

Register Central Team Contact Details

The NCSP Register operates from the Ministry of Health offices in Wellington under the auspices of the National Screening Unit, with some Register duties carried out by District Health Boards. Contact details for the Register Central Team are as follows:

NCSP Register Central Team
PO Box 5895
Lambton Quay
Wellington 6145
Free phone: 0800 50 60 50
Fax: (04) 816 2422
E-mail: NCSP-RCT@moh.govt.nz