Our BreastCheck programme has received re-certification from the European Reference Organisation (EUREF) for Quality Assured Breast Screening and Diagnostic Services. Level 4 is the highest level of accreditation and provides independent external reassurance of the high quality of our BreastCheck programme.
One of the key activities of EUREF is certification of breast screening and diagnostic services. It has developed a European programme for voluntary certification of high-quality mammography services in co-operation with the European Network of Breast Screening Programmes, departments of the European Commission, European agencies, and other interested national authorities in member states.
A delegation from EUREF visited BreastCheck in June 2024 to help us plan for re-accreditation. We completed supporting documentation about our operational activities, quality assurance and programme data in preparation for the accreditation visit earlier this year.
The EUREF team visited our Eccles Unit in Dublin from 13 to 15 March. The team met radiography and radiology representatives from our four units, examined our epidemiology and physics data, and attended a live online multidisciplinary meeting with our Southern Unit.
Awarding the re-certification, the President of EUREF Dr Chris de Wolf said: “We are delighted to confirm that, following a comprehensive evaluation of the Professional, Technical, Training, and Organizational dimensions, the Irish BreastCheck programme has been awarded recertified status. This outcome is a testament to BreastCheck’s continued commitment to excellence and to delivering the highest standards in breast cancer screening. We look forward to ongoing collaboration and to witnessing the continued success of the BreastCheck screening programme.”
BreastCheck Clinical Director Dr Alissa Connors said: “Obtaining certification with EUREF supports public trust and confidence in our breast screening programme. Our screening participants and our staff benefit from the independent reassurance that our programme is working to a high standard.”
BreastCheck Programme Manager Suzanne Lynch said: “I would like to thank everyone for what has been a fantastic collaborative effort. It’s been a demanding process, and the commitment and teamwork shown has been exceptional.”
Our Chief Executive Fiona Murphy added: “Huge congratulations to the whole of the BreastCheck team for this important validation of the great work that you do. The organising group deserve our enormous thanks; the work that people across the programme put into this was tremendous. The review team commented on the professionalism, engagement, competence, expertise, high standards, high quality and high performance of the people and the service. We can now look ahead with confidence in the continuing quality assurance that we can give women who choose screening.”