Guidance

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: internal quality assurance

This document sets out the framework for image quality assurance (IQA) and competency assessments in the NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme.

• From: NHS England
• Published: 1 May 2016
• Last updated: 7 August 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 7 August 2025

     Addition of Appendix 7 and link to it from main page, section 3.1.

  2. 17 March 2025

     This guidance update incorporates the screening technician annual competency assessment documentation with detail of required recovery training, which was previously separate. It includes guidance for screeners returning to work after a period of absence.

  3. 1 May 2016

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

IQA framework and competence assessments

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Appendix 1 - Screening Technician internal quality assurance record template

MS Word Document, 17.9 KB

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Appendix 2 - Record of 100 image reviews – conducted by CST IQA lead

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Appendix 3 - Standard clinical observation pro forma

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Appendix 4 - NHS AAA Screening Programme - Screening Technician annual competence assessment record

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Appendix 5 - NHS AAA Screening Programme - Screening Technician recovery training portfolio

MS Word Document, 16.3 KB

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Appendix 6 - Reflection on practice

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Appendix 7 - Guidance and example of prompts for completing trainee screening technician clinical observations

PDF, 205 KB, 22 pages

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Details

This document explains the internal quality assurance (IQA) mechanisms in place throughout the training and continuing professional development of screening technicians. It includes 6 IQA resources to:

• assess the first 100 scans following initial training
• record abnormal scans
• record random scans
• offer clinical observation and feedback
• record technicians’ training
• record technicians’ IQA