History of the Programme

The National Breast Screening Programme was set up by the Department of Health in 1988 in response to the recommendations of the 1986 report to health ministers on breast cancer screening. This became known as the Forrest Report after the chairman of the committee, who set out to consider whether and how to implement a population screening programme in the UK. The NHS BSP was one of the first of its kind in the world and national coverage was achieved by the mid 1990s.

Breast screening was first introduced in Northern Ireland in 1989 and by 1993 it was established in all 4 health boards. It is provided from four screening/assessment units and supported by three mobile units. The Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme follows standards for the NHS Breast Screening Programme and, since September 2000, the NIBSP has invited the Scottish Breast Screening Programme to conduct quality assurance visits on a 3 yearly basis throughout the region. Northern Ireland has a very high quality screening programme and structured regional quality assurance has been in place since the NIBSP’s inception.

All 4 Health and Social Services Boards in the province commission breast screening services from hospital trusts in their area on behalf of their eligible population. Within each board a Clinical Director, who is normally a consultant radiologist, is identified with sessional commitments for the screening programme.

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