THE NATIONAL-HEALTH-SERVICE BREAST SCREENING-PROGRAM IN THE TRENT REGION - ARE WE MEETING THE TARGETS

Aims. In the UK National Breast Screening Programme, women aged 50-64 years are invited for breast screening mammography. This study aimed t o determine whether current quality assurance guidelines for the Breas t Screening Programme were being achieved. Method. A prospective analy sis of key outcome measures was performed in the 11 breast screening u nits in the Trent region, between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1995. Results. All 11 units exceeded the 70% target for screening attendanc e. Ten units matched the invasive cancer detection target for the prev alent screen, but this fell to three for the incident screen. Seven un its achieved the 50% target for small invasive cancers, but for specia l type and well-differentiated cancers only three units matched the ta rget of 30% and there was wide variation between units. Pre-operative diagnosis rates were short of targets in most units. Only one unit ach ieved outcome measures for clear histological margins in patients comp leting operations for breast-conserving surgery. No unit provided hist ological node status on all its patients undergoing surgery for operab le breast cancer, or met the target for benign biopsy weights. Conclus ion. Although results as a whole are good, changes can be made to impr ove performance and reduce the variation between units. Particular att ention should focus on those areas which can be influenced directly by surgeons.