Implementing barcode film-reading in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme: the good, the bad and the ugly

The National Breast Screening Computer System (NBSS) was redeveloped in 2003 and was rolled out to the programme during 2004. Following the national initiative to convert all breast screening programmes in England to use the NBSS system, barcode film-reading functionality and the NBSS daybook software were developed and piloted during 2005/06.

Although this functionality has been available now for nearly 3 years, services have been slow to implement this change for a variety of reasons. Lack of funding for new hardware, inappropriate accommodation, lack of space and a general unwillingness to change have been sited as reasons for not implementing barcode film-reading and/or the NBSS daybook.

The Coventry Breast Screening Training Centre has invested considerable time with many breast screening services, helping them implement this functionality. The Centre has helped services adapt their processes to this new way of working whilst maintaining the integrity of their Right Results procedure.

It is hoped that this practical guide will persuade the remaining services to convert to this new functionality during 2008 and to help those already using this functionality to overcome any issues.