Responsibility versus residence: how will this change in Department of Health policy affect you and your breast screening service?

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Call and recall mechanisms for women in many areas of the NHSBSP are based on GP practice within the HA of residence. Women are invited to the breast screening service purchased by the HA in which they reside, regardless of responsibility status of their registered GP. With the advent of Primary Care Groups and Primary Care Trusts, the Department of Health is to issue a policy statement from April 1, 2001, requiring all breast screening services to call and recall women registered with GPs responsible to that HA. Our service will lose 4712 and gain 4920 women, a net gain of 208 women. However small the gain, 9632 women will change their screening service causing significant disruption to all concerned.

The following implications can be defined: (1) a significant increase in the number of administrative processes performed; (2) communication with a larger number of HAs; (3) re-evaluation of mobile breast screening sites to ensure appropriate accessibility to screening; (4) clear communication and documentation with neighbouring screening services to ensure women are not missed; (5) re-negotiation of service level agreements and/or contracts; and (6) careful screening round planning from April 1, 2001, ensuring every woman continues to achieve the 36-month round length target.