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The Credential in Breast Disease Management is a comprehensive training programme through which trainee Breast Clinicians acquire the skills to support
- breast radiology services
- surgical breast clinics
- family history clinics
The Credential was developed by the Association of Breast Clinicians (ABC), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the National Breast Imaging Academy (NBIA) and NHS England (NHSE). Its main aims are
- to standardise and recognise the training for breast clinicians
- to increase the breast clinician workforce to support breast screening and symptomatic services
Since its launch in 2019, 28 candidates have been appointed across 18 NHS Trusts to train on the Credential. Upon successful completion of the Credential, all Credentialled Breast Clinicians have been retained in breast services on SAS doctor contracts. The Credential has bolstered the Breast Clinician workforce by 34% by 2025. Independent economic evaluation of the Credential in Breast Disease Management projected a 46% return on investment to the health economy over 10 years.
The Credential in Breast Disease Management has been adopted by the NHS England ETAP (Education Training Activity Plan), through which it will receive recurrent funding to recruit 10 Breast Clinician learners annually. ETAP funding support per learner amounts to £90,000 in total. In addition, an extra £30,000 incentive payment is available for the first 10 trainee Breast Clinicians recruited before April 2027, bringing the total funding available to £120,000 per trainee. Learners are remunerated on the specialty doctor pay scale whilst they complete the Credential, which is a 3-year programme (if working 1WTE).
Sites are invited to host a trainee with immediate effect, with a view to trainees starting as soon as possible. The NBIA welcomes expressions of interest from potential host sites, upon receipt of which further details, support and eligibility checks will be actioned. The NBIA will support host sites to undertake local recruitment of their trainee. Funding will be released to eligible host sites on a first come first serve basis. Appointed candidates will be enrolled into the Credential programme, which is led by the Credential Oversight Board.
To express your interest in hosting a trainee Breast Clinician, please contact [email protected]
Find out more about the Breast Clinician Credential in these the vlogs from the Royal College of Radiologists
