The United Kingdom national breast screening programme: implications for pathology departments

Following an assessment of available data it was recommended that a national breast screening programme should be established in the United Kingdom. This advice was accepted by the Government and specific funding provided to implement the service by 1990. It was envisaged that basic screening units would be established to serve a population of 41,500 women aged 50-64 years and that specialist assessment centres would each cover the work from up to three basic screening units. This will require careful organisation and cooperation between different specialties; pathologists must ensure that they are fully consulted. The increased workload will have a significant impact on laboratories and appropriate funding and manpower will be needed. Pathologists will have to provide expertise in the interpretation of diagnostic samples from such techniques as fine needle aspiration cytology and needle localisation biopsies. To ensure the success of the programme a national Quality Assurance scheme is being implemented, and this will include validation of pathology data.