NHSBSP: Guidelines on Quality Assurance Visits

NHSBSP Publication No 40. Published October 2000.

ISBN 1 871997 33 X

These guidelines describe the organisation of quality assurance (QA) in the NHS Breast Screening Programme, give detailed guidance on the conduct of QA visits, and describe protocols for the assessment of professional performance.

They have been written with reference to the breast screening programme in England. There are different organisational and management arrangements for the breast screening programme in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the broad principles of these guidelines are nevertheless applicable.

The guidelines cover the minimum requirements for routine QA visits. They are not intended to preclude local initiatives or more detailed scrutiny of professional performance.

The guidelines were first published in July 1998. They have now been revised to reflect the introduction of clinical governance in the NHS, and experience in using the guidelines to organise QA visits and assess the professional and managerial performance of breast screening units.

Copies of NHSBSP publications are normally free of charge for staff working within the NHS, the voluntary sector and for healthcare students. To order copies or obtain details of prices and availability of publications to those outside the NHS, please contact the Department of Health publication orderline: Telephone: 0300 123 1002, Textphone: 0300 123 1003, Fax: 01623 724 524, Email orders: [email protected]

NHS Breast Cancer Screening Publications