Symptomatic Breast Disease

Symptomatic Breast Disease Standards

In May 2007, we adopted the National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services, developed by an expert group chaired by Professor Niall O’Higgins. The standards define what is expected of the providers of symptomatic breast disease services and provide the basis of service planning, development and continuous improvement.  The Standards also give patients and the public a clearer understanding of what they should expect from services.

The Standards describe the elements for safe, high quality symptomatic breast disease care.

What is the focus of the standards?

The Standards are based on national and international best practice. They describe the essential elements that are fundamental to providing safe care for individual patients on a day-to-day basis (for example multidisciplinary teams and “triple assessment”) and others that are important for the sustainable and consistent delivery of quality care to patients over time. For example, collecting and using data to monitor performance or ensuring that sufficient numbers of patients are treated by clinicians in order that the clinicians maintain their expertise.

In 2008, the Authority commenced a National Quality Review of Symptomatic Breast Disease Services in Ireland to monitor compliance with the Standards. In February 2010, the Authority published eight individual reports of the Quality Review at each designated centres and one national report.

The Authority, under section 8 of the Health Act 2007, continues to have the remit to monitor compliance with national standards.

All symptomatic breast disease services are now provided by eight designated specialist centres. Read the report on the National Quality Review of Symptomatic Breast Disease Services in Ireland or a report of a designated centre in your region.