Breast screening modernisation programme: final report

Aspirations for the future

A number of topics which have been raised over the life of the Board sit in a group of projects which are desirable but were not possible during the life-time of the Programme. Many of these are client-based and focus on improved access, communications and education. Some of them could be implemented through BAU – a process which would be facilitated and simplified under the new management model.

We would like to highlight these as potential workstreams for the future:

• 50-53 years: Should there be communication with participants from 50 onwards, raising awareness of their eligibility and advising about potential dates for screening in their locality?
• Better telephony and texting facilities: one source of reputational damage for the service is slow response time to telephone calls. Could a national contact centre prove to be cheaper and a more efficient way to deal with enquiries?
• Online access to change appointments: This facility is popular in some primary care settings with systems already developed, linkage with SBSS or its successor needed.
• Cross boundary appointments: This should be possible under the new management model.
• HIS standards: We identified that there would be significant benefit from collaborating with HIS on updating the Breast Screening QA standards. This is part of a rolling action across all Scottish screening programmes,
• Informed choice: it is difficult to properly assess the level of knowledge and understanding in target population. Regular audits of both participants and non–attenders would inform and focus promotional activity. Accessible educational materials to improve education and debate around Breast Screening: communicating the availability of these could be improved.