Health Education England supports new mammography associate apprenticeship

A one year Mammography Associate (MA) apprenticeship, offering the chance to train or develop in breast imaging has been launched.  

The new role is supported by Health Education England (HEE), Public Health England (PHE) and the Society and College of Radiographers, with the first apprentices starting in January 2019.

The MA’s will work under the supervision of registered radiographers and alongside mammography assistant practitioners. They will get involved in preparing patients for mammography, reassuring and supporting patients and working as part of a team of different breast care professionals. 

Once they have completed the apprenticeship successfully MA’s will be able to carry out routine mammography and care for patients attending the examination.  

HEE is providing an initial number of training grants of £9,000 to the first Trusts employing MA’s, with the funding being used to support staff to complete a recognised MA apprenticeship training programme.  

Professor Wendy Reid, Executive Director of Education and Quality and National Medical Director, Health Education England said; 

I’m delighted HEE are supporting the Mammography Associate role and new apprenticeship training route, this is a great opportunity for apprentices to learn key skills which will help them undertake mammography and support patients through a breast screening or out-patient appointment.  

It’s vitally important that women receive quality and timely mammography in screening and symptomatic services in order to gain early diagnosis and the best chance of successful treatment. This new role will help improve the service provided to NHS breast screening clients and to symptomatic clinic patients”.