This report presents the findings from the National Quality Review of Symptomatic Breast Disease Services that has been undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (the Authority). This Review was undertaken in order to monitor progress with the implementation of the National Quality Assurance Standards (the Standards) for symptomatic breast disease (SBD) services in Ireland(1). All designated centres were expected to be fully established as specialist centres and meeting the Standards by the end of 2009.

Since 2007, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), established by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to lead the development of cancer services, has been engaged in a change programme to move the provision of SBD services from over 30 publicly funded centres to eight designated centres. The national Quality Review of Symptomatic Breast Disease Services by the Authority is the culmination of two and a half years of its interaction with the service since the launch of the Standards.