Scottish Breast Screening Programme employs mobiles to improve rural access

Philips UK and Ireland says its partnership with NHS National Services Scotland to deliver the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) has become a leading model for breast screening. Through the partnership, as many as 270,000 women in Scotland between the ages of 50 and 70 are invited for screening each year, leading to the prevention of approximately 130 deaths per year.

Philips Vue PACS V12.2 has been installed across the network to provide national access to breast imaging via a global worklist, alongside symptomatic services and the national PACS solution. With Philips’ support, NHS National Services Scotland and the SBSP have created an imaging database that has led to improved screening analysis and workflow efficiencies.

The SBSP comprises static screening centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayrshire, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness and 19 mobile units across the country. Approximately one-fifth of Scotland’s population is based in rural areas, potentially living several hours from one of the six centres. SBSP’s mobile vans enable easier and more affordable access to screening services for those living in rural areas. Patients can visit any mobile van location and have their images securely transferred back to one of the screening centres for analysis. The reporting mechanism between screening centres means they are able to support each other in the case of staff shortages.

Clinical director of north-east SBSP for NHS Grampian Dr Gerald Lip explained: “The national reporting function enabled by the global PACS solution allows centres to report and support each other. For instance, in the case of a staffing issue due to absences from sickness among readers, cases for reporting can rapidly pile up. The use of this function allows readers from across Scotland to provide mutual aid and assistance in ensuring all centres are at a similar level in reporting.”

Published on page 2 of the April 2022 issue of RAD Magazine.