NICE family history guidance and implementation update

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence and Health (NICE) released guidance to the NHS on the management of familial breast cancer in May 2004. In that guidance [1] several statements of important clinical relevance were made. There seems to have been a lag between the time of release and implementation in many areas of the country. Important guidance on the detailed provision of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing services was included. Cancerbackup performed a survey of NHS clinical genetics services and NHS laboratory services at the end of 2005. The findings of this survey were released to the public at a workshop entitled 'BRCA testing: opening the dialogue', which was held at University College London on 14 December 2005. An update on the findings of this survey will be presented to the conference.

Several recommendations were also made about the provision of regular mammographic services for women under 50 with a family history of breast cancer. It has become clear to the team developing and leading FH01 that service provision across the United Kingdom is very patchy and there appears to be significant geographical variation in the level of service the public can expect. We will examine some of that variation and consider whether mechanisms should be put in place to monitor service provision more closely.