About Screening
Professions Within Breast Screening
Radiographers take the mammograms. The women’s first contact with the service is usually a radiographer and, as most screening is carried out on the mobile units, she will probably be the only contact. The radiographers produce mammograms of consistently high quality and provide women being screened with the appropriate information. They may also take on additional roles such as reading mammograms and taking needle biopsies.
Radiography helpers are multi-skilled. They process, display and file the mammograms and support the medical staff, radiographers and nurses in the clinics.
Medical physicists monitor the performance of the equipment used to produce mammograms and advise on technical matters.
Breast care nurses provide sensitive support and counselling for women through assessment and beyond, both at BTW and in the community.
Administrative staff operate the computerised system for making appointments, inviting women for screening and sending results. They also deal with telephone enquiries and work on the reception desks in the Centres.
Secretaries provide support to other staff.
Medical secretaries also co-ordinate assessment clinics, arrange hospital admissions and maintain medical records.
Screening promotion officers use health promotion and media skills to provide information to eligible women, other members of the public, primary health care teams and other health professionals.
Medical Teams
Radiologists read the mammograms to identify possible cancers. They must avoid missing cancers whilst minimising the recall of women who do not have cancer. At assessment they may request further mammograms, carry out ultrasound imaging and take needle biopsy samples of possible abnormalities. They lead the multi-disciplinary team meetings which review every case.
Surgeons carry out clinical examinations on women at assessment and may also take needle biopsies. With the breast care nurses, they tell women the results of assessment. If necessary, they arrange for the woman to have a surgical biopsy and carry this out. If women need treatment, they advise on the treatment options. Women may choose to be treated by the same surgeon or may ask to be referred to another surgeon.
Pathologists carry out tests on the biopsy specimens. The results of these tests are used to help reach a definitive diagnosis.
Breast physicians are specially trained to carry out many of the radiology and/or surgical roles. The medical staff use a multi-disciplinary approach to diagnosis. The final decision as to whether a woman has cancer should only be made when all of the members of the multi-disciplinary team agree.
The Information Team
The Information Team carry out both information analysis and information technology (IT) work, including:
- analyses and reports to monitor, quality assure, evaluate and support the planning of Screening Services (now including breast, cervical, newborn hearing and antenatal screening)
- IT support and software development to more than 20 screening sites in Wales
- Information Governance support for Screening Services; policy and procedures for data protection, confidentiality, subject access and freedom of information
- Screening Services web sites.
The Corporate Team
The administrative and financial teams work across the Screening Services to ensure the service meets its strategic management, clinical governance, risk management and financial management requirements.
