Breast screening care pathway
Published 17 June 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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This flowchart (illustration and text description below) describes the care pathway for NHS breast screening.
1. Prepare the batch list and send invitation
Prepare the batch of invitations to be sent out to women eligible for breast screening, including information about the screening test.
2. Does the woman opt out of screening?
Yes: Send her an opt out form, and cease the woman from screening when the completed form is returned.
No: Go to question 3.
3. Does the woman attend for screening?
Yes: Take the screening mammograms and report the results. Go to question 4.
No: Re-invite the woman again:
- if she still does not attend, return her to routine recall. End of pathway
- if she does attend, take the screening mammograms and report the results. Go to question 4.
4. Is a technical recall required? (Images taken are not clear enough to give a screening result.)
Yes: Send the woman a technical recall invitation. Go back to question 3.
No: Go to question 5.
5. Are further tests needed?
Yes: Carry out the tests at an assessment clinic, and discuss at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting if a core biopsy is taken. Go to question 6.
No: Return the woman to routine recall. End of pathway.
6. Is the result normal/benign?
Yes: Return the woman to routine recall. End of pathway.
No: Go to question 7.
7. Is there a breast cancer diagnosis?
Yes: Refer woman for treatment. End of pathway.
No: An inconclusive result (exceptional case). Recall the woman to assessment clinic in one year. End of pathway.